WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GIVING
The Bible has a lot to say about giving. It should come at no surprise then that the God of the Bible is a generous God Himself. In fact, the most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only Son…” is a reflection of just how deep His generosity goes. God was willing to give what was most precious to Him for you and me.
As Christians, we give to follow God’s example. He has shown us what it’s like to be generous along with other characteristics like love, forgiveness, kindness, etc. This is a big part of the Christian experience. It’s learning about who God is and what He does and then doing the same in our own lives. This is why the Bible says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” Ephesians 5:1 NKJV. Acting like God (being godly), honors the Lord and then opens our lives up to His blessing.
Giving, however, can look several different ways. We can give our time, our talent, and our resources. We see Jesus, His disciples, and the early church give all three of these ways (Matthew 8:16, 12:15; Acts 2:45, 5:16). Giving of our time, talent and resources should be a part of our Christian walk, including the area of giving our financial resources.
What does the Bible say about giving our finances?
Luke 6:38 NIV : Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
1 Timothy 6:18-19 NIV : Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Matthew 6:19-20 NIV : “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV : One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV : Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Is there a specific amount?
You may have heard of the word tithe. It simply means a tenth or 10%. The Bible introduces this idea early in the Bible–the first book in fact (Genesis 14:20)! God commands His people in the Old Testament to give a tenth of all their earnings to the tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). There were additional giving requirements, but the tithe was the baseline.
We also see that God specifically rebukes His people for not tithing in Malachi 3:8-11:
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
Now as we look to the New Testament, there is no specific amount given; however, we see early Christians giving 100% in Acts 2:44-45. We also see Christians in the early church giving as a deep sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:3). The apostle Paul also challenges Christians to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). So while the tithe isn’t explicitly said, it does seem like early Christian went well passed the 10% mark.
However, since Jesus time and the start of the church in Acts, churches in general have adopted the idea of the tithe as a baseline, despite the New Testament showing a much greater level of giving and sacrifice without the mandate of a percentage as mentioned above..
We encourage you to take a step of faith and give. Let 10% of your income be your baseline and watch God bless you as He did the Israelites in Malachi’s day. As you do the act of giving, God will also transform your heart toward generosity making giving a joy not a burden.
As Christians, we give to follow God’s example. He has shown us what it’s like to be generous along with other characteristics like love, forgiveness, kindness, etc. This is a big part of the Christian experience. It’s learning about who God is and what He does and then doing the same in our own lives. This is why the Bible says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” Ephesians 5:1 NKJV. Acting like God (being godly), honors the Lord and then opens our lives up to His blessing.
Giving, however, can look several different ways. We can give our time, our talent, and our resources. We see Jesus, His disciples, and the early church give all three of these ways (Matthew 8:16, 12:15; Acts 2:45, 5:16). Giving of our time, talent and resources should be a part of our Christian walk, including the area of giving our financial resources.
What does the Bible say about giving our finances?
Luke 6:38 NIV : Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
1 Timothy 6:18-19 NIV : Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Matthew 6:19-20 NIV : “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV : One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV : Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Is there a specific amount?
You may have heard of the word tithe. It simply means a tenth or 10%. The Bible introduces this idea early in the Bible–the first book in fact (Genesis 14:20)! God commands His people in the Old Testament to give a tenth of all their earnings to the tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). There were additional giving requirements, but the tithe was the baseline.
We also see that God specifically rebukes His people for not tithing in Malachi 3:8-11:
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
Now as we look to the New Testament, there is no specific amount given; however, we see early Christians giving 100% in Acts 2:44-45. We also see Christians in the early church giving as a deep sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:3). The apostle Paul also challenges Christians to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). So while the tithe isn’t explicitly said, it does seem like early Christian went well passed the 10% mark.
However, since Jesus time and the start of the church in Acts, churches in general have adopted the idea of the tithe as a baseline, despite the New Testament showing a much greater level of giving and sacrifice without the mandate of a percentage as mentioned above..
We encourage you to take a step of faith and give. Let 10% of your income be your baseline and watch God bless you as He did the Israelites in Malachi’s day. As you do the act of giving, God will also transform your heart toward generosity making giving a joy not a burden.