Giving
1. THE BIBLE COMMANDS BELIEVERS TO GIVE:
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand … thou shalt open thine hand wide
Proverbs 3:27–28 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due … Say not … to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee
Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and … would borrow
Luke 3:11 He that hath two coats … impart to him that hath none
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality
2. GOD BLESSES US WHEN WE GIVE:
Matthew 6:4 Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly
A. Spiritual blessings:
Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul … shall be watered also himself
Proverbs 13:7 [He] maketh himself poor [gives], yet hath great riches
Proverbs 14:21 He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Mark 10:21 Give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven
Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive
B. Material blessings:
Deuteronomy 15:10 For this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works
Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth
Isaiah 58:10–11 If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry… the Lord shall … satisfy thy soul in drought
Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given you; good measure…With the same measure ye mete it shall be measured again
3. GIVING TO GOD’S WORK:
A. When we give, we are giving to Jesus:
Matthew 25:40 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
B. When we give to God’s work, we are investing:
Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; … he [will] pay him again
Luke 10:30–37 Whatsover thou spendest … when I come, I will repay
Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account
C. God will pay us back for sacrificial giving:
Proverbs 22:9 He … shall be blessed; for he giveth … to the poor
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack 85
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it
2 Corinthians 9:6 He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully
4. CHRISTIAN DUTY REGARDING GIVING AND SHARING:
2 Corinthians 8:4–5,7 As ye abound in every thing, in faith … in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace [giving] also
Hebrews 13:16 To do good and to communicate [share with others] forget not
A. Believers are to support Christian workers and missionaries:
Romans 15:27 Their debtors they are … their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
1 Corinthians 9:6–11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things … we shall reap your carnal things
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught … [share materially] unto him that teacheth
1 Timothy 5:17–18 They who labour in the word … the labourer is worthy of his reward [wages]
(See also 3 John 1:7–8.)
B. Believers are also expected to help needy fellow Christians:
Romans 15:26 Pleased them … to make a certain contribution for the poor saints
Galatians 6:10 Do good unto … them who are of the household of faith
Philippians 4:15–16 [Paul said] Concerning giving and receiving … ye sent once and again unto my necessity
(See also 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 9:12.)
C. Everyone should give according to their ability:
Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord … which he hath given thee
Acts 11:29 The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren
1 Corinthians 16:2 Let every one of you lay by him in store [set aside to give], as God hath prospered him
2 Corinthians 8:12 It is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not
D. Wealthy Christians are especially enjoined to give:
Luke 8:3 Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and many others ministered unto [Jesus] of their substance
2 Corinthians 8:14–15 Your abundance may be a supply for their want
1 Timothy 6:17–19 Charge them that are rich … that they … ready to distribute, willing to communicate [share]
(See also examples in 2 Timothy 1:16–18; Philemon 1:7.)
E. The church should redistribute gifts among the needy:
Acts 2:44–45 [They] parted them to all men, as every man had need
Acts 4:34–35 Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need
Acts 6:1 [The early church had a “daily ministration” to widows]
1 Timothy 5:4,16 [Church’s duty to “relieve them that are widows”]
F. Even poor believers are encouraged to give:
1 Kings 17:9–16 [Poor widow of Zarephath gave sacrificially, and God blessed her with unending supply of food in famine]
Mark 12:43–44 Poor widow hath cast more in … For they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all
2 Corinthians 8:1–4 In … their deep poverty … they were willing … praying us that we would receive the gift
5. GIVING WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVES:
A. Give cheerfully:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Not grudgingly … for God loveth a cheerful giver
Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved
Exodus 25:2 Bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering
Exodus 35:21 Every one whose heart stirred him up, and … spirit made willing … brought the Lord’s offering to the work
1 Chronicles 29:9 People rejoiced … because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord
Hebrews 10:34 [Ye] took joyfully the spoiling of your goods
B. Give generously:
Proverbs 21:26 The righteous giveth and spareth not
C. Give till it hurts; not just what we can spare:
2 Samuel 24:24 Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing
Luke 21:4 All these have of their abundance cast in … but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had
D. Give with pure motives:
1 Corinthians 13:3 Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor … and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing
Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar … first be reconciled
Matthew 6:1–3 Do not your alms before men … otherwise ye have no reward of your Father … The hypocrites [give alms] … that they may have glory of men … They have their reward … When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth
Luke 6:34–35 Lend, hope for nothing again
6. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WITHHOLD AND DON’T GIVE:
A. It puts extra strain on others:
Philippians 2:30 He was nigh unto death … to supply your lack of service
B. God may hold back on blessing us:
Proverbs 11:24 There is that withholdeth … but it tendeth to poverty
Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing
Proverbs 28:27 He that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse
C. It shows we lack Christian love:
James 2:15–16 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And … ye give them not … what doth it profit?
1 John 3:17–18 Whoso hath … and seeth his brother have need [and doesn’t give] … how dwelleth the love of God in him?
D. The results of giving stingily or dishonestly:
Malachi 1:7–10 Ye offer polluted bread … I have no pleasure in you neither will I accept an offering at your hand
Malachi 1:13–14 Ye brought … torn, lame, and sick; should I accept this?
2 Corinthians 9:6 He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly
(See also Malachi 1:8; Acts 5:1–2,9–10.)
E. Beware of covetousness and greed:
Proverbs 28:16 He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver
Luke 12:15 Beware of covetousness: a man’s life consisteth not in … things
1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money is the root of all evil
James 5:1–5 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you
(See also Ecclesiastes 5:13,15; Acts 5:1–10.)
7. TITHING:
A. Giving 10% of our income to God’s work:
Leviticus 27:30 All the tithe of the land … is the Lord’s: it is holy
Numbers 18:21 I have given the children of Levi all the tenth … for their service which they serve
Numbers 18:24 The tithes … which they offer … unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites [God’s workers]
Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase [profit]
(See also Deuteronomy 12:19; Nehemiah 10:37–39.)
B. God will bless us for tithing:
Deuteronomy 14:28–29 Thou shalt bring forth all the tithe … that the Lord may bless thee in all the work of thine hand
Proverbs 3:9–10 Honour the Lord with … all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty
Malachai 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes … and prove me … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing
Malachai 3:8–11 [God grants protection and freedom from curses]
C. Setting aside our tithe on a frequent basis:
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him
D. Believers are encouraged to give extra (above their tithe) for special projects:
Exodus 35:5 Take … an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it (See also 35:21–22.)
2 Kings 12:4–5,9–12 [Freewill offerings encouraged for the work of God]
8. OTHER ASPECTS OF GIVING:
A. Gifts can help obtain a man’s favour or forgiveness:
Proverbs 19:6 Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts
Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger
(See also Proverbs 17:23.)
B. When not to accept gifts:
Exodus 23:8 Take no gift [with “strings” attached] for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the … righteous.
Numbers 22:18 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord
1 Kings 13:7–10 [Young prophet refused gifts from disobedient king]
2 Kings 5:15–16 [Elisha refused Naaman’s money, but Gehazi coveted it—5:20–27] Is it a time to receive money?
(On bribes, see also Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 29:4; Ecclesiastes 7:7.)