The Bible very clearly encourages Christians to be kind and generous, with numerous Scriptures on giving to set the standard for helping others. These verses range from Old Testament proclamations about tithing to verses in the Bible about giving more generally. Jesus’ command to “love God” and “love others” drives these mandates, and sets the tone for giving.
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Here are 13 verses about giving that will help explain the Bible’s take on kindness and generosity:
Psalm 37:21 (NIV)
“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.”
This Bible verse about giving reminds us that the “righteous” give to others generously. The opposite of this dynamic is one in which people borrow and decline to repay those who have helped them. Bible verses about giving remind us to be generous and to do so with contentedness and care.
In "Divine Influencer," Olivia lives an affluent life, one where she has luxurious comforts. When her parents financially cut her off and all her material wealth is suddenly gone, Olivia learns how to repay those who help her. She realizes the true meaning of being selfless by giving generously while working at the rescue mission she is staying at.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 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.”
There are many Bible verses about giving to others, but there is also quite a bit in Scriptures on giving about the importance of not being arrogant and not putting one’s meaning in wealth. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 encourages believers to put their faith in the Almighty, and to do good deeds. With so many people in need, Bible verses about giving encourage us to help others.
READ ALSO: MOVIES THAT INSPIRE GIVING AND SERVING OTHERS
Olivia learns this lesson in "Divine Influencer" after she loses her wealth and her job as a social media influencer. After being stripped of what she believes gives her her identity, she is able to find her identity in Christ alone. Because of her faith in Him, she understands what it means to serve His people and do good deeds.
Proverbs 21:26 (NIV)
“The righteous give without sparing.”
When it comes to giving in the Bible, we’re encouraged to do so not only willingly, but also “without sparing.” Without sparing means that we don't give sparsely or in small quantities. God wants us to give to His people abundantly. This message holds the power to force us all to be introspective about how we’re currently putting verses about giving into action.
In "Miracle from Manchester," Brycen was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor. When his entire school community heard this - including his football and baseball teammates - all of them hit their knees to raise Brycen up in prayer. The sheer number of people who reached out to Brycen and helped him in his healing journey showed how much they gave to him "without sparing."
Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV)
“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
In being a blessing to others, we sometimes forget how God can and will bless us in return. Among Bible verses about giving to the poor, Deuteronomy 15:10 reminds us of the importance and impact that giving can have in our own lives and spiritual walks.
READ ALSO: TITHING: WHAT IS IT AND HOW SHOULD YOU DO IT?
At first, Olivia is weary about giving to the poor when she encounters them on the street in the movie, "Divine Influencer." We could say her self-seeking tendencies caused her to have a "grudging heart" towards those who were not like her. Once Olivia found her faith walk with God, she realized how to give generously from her heart,
2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Generosity offers us an opportunity to also be grateful for what we have. This verse reminds us that it’s essential to be “enriched” so that we can always be giving to those around us — and, in turn, we can and should thank the Lord for all He’s given us.
READ ALSO: 7 WAYS TO CULTIVATE A SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE
In "Running the Bases," Luke Brooks suffered a terrible loss when his brother died when he was young. In honor of him, Luke continued his legacy by coaching high school baseball and praying while running the bases after every game. As a man of faith, Luke's coaching methods also include sharing the Good News to his players, the parents of his team and his community. Luke's efforts help enrich others' lives, while he also is open to others enriching his life.
Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Bible verses about giving to others encourage believers not to trumpet their own giving. So, when you help the poor and those in need, do so without making it a point to brag about it or overly discuss it with friends and loved ones. Giving in the Bible is meant to be selfless and to be done in secret; it’s an act between the person doing it and God.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
“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.”
Bible verses about giving tell us to be “cheerful” when we give and not to do so reluctantly. Since motivation matters, generosity is all about acting in accordance with love for others — and not simply because you’re feeling compelled to do so. Give graciously and with an open heart.
Charley doesn't have the easiest job as a hospice nurse in "Going Home." But that doesn't mean she isn't dedicated to her patients. Because she knows God's love, she is able to give cheerfully to the families and loves one who come into her hospice facility.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
In a world in which so many people focus on personal gain, this Bible verse about giving offers another perspective; gratitude is an opportunity for the giver to both prosper and be refreshed. This is an encouragement among verses about giving, as it offers a reminder that donating to help others can be beneficial to all parties.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV)
“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
Love is what matters most. Verses about giving remind us of this reality, with this Scripture noting, though, that without love, even giving all to the poor is fruitless. It’s important to give with love and to be motivated by care and compassion for others.
Based on a true story, Paster Cliff in "No Vacancy," is on a mission to get the city to approve his church's purchase of a run-down motel to transform into affordable housing for homeless families. The amount of care that he gives to the poor moves the city to indeed agree and approve his purchase.
2 Chronicles 31:5 (NIV)
“As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.”
Bible verses about giving show us the timeless importance of offering up money to help ministries and those in need. These lessons carry throughout the Scriptures.
Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)
“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.’”
The Old Testament speaks of the importance of tithing. There are a number of Bible verses about giving that many Christians interpret as requiring believers to give 10 percent of their earnings to church. There’s some debate over what the level of generosity should look like. You can read more about the discussion over Bible verses about giving here.
Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.”
Rather than merely honoring ourselves, Bible verses about giving remind us of the importance of honoring God with our money. In a culture filled with shiny things, it’s easy to forget this message. But the importance of giving in the Bible reminds us that our overarching purpose should always be to serve the Lord.
1 Chronicles 29:9 (NIV)
”Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.”
Once again, motivation matters when it comes to generosity. In this case, the Bible verse about giving focuses on sacrificing for the Lord, but the lesson is clear: give “with a whole heart” and rejoice while doing so. It’s a wonderful and timeless lesson for us all.
Scriptures on giving help us understand the blessings that can come from helping others. But examples of giving in the Bible also help us live out Jesus’ command that we “love others.”
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