10 Dec What Does the Bible Say About Giving?
The Bible has more to say about money and giving than almost any other topic—over 2,000 verses address how we handle our resources. If you’re wondering what Scripture teaches about generosity, you’re asking one of the most important questions for your spiritual growth.
Whether you’re exploring biblical giving for the first time or seeking to deepen your understanding, this article will walk through six foundational passages that reveal God’s heart for generous living
Why Does God Care About Our Giving?
Before we dive into specific verses, it’s worth asking: why does the Bible talk so much about money and giving? The answer is simple but profound: what we do with our money reveals what we truly treasure. Jesus said it plainly in Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” God doesn’t need our money—He owns everything. Rather, giving is about aligning our hearts with His purposes and participating in His work in the world. When we give, we’re declaring that God, not money, is our ultimate security and satisfaction.
Let’s explore what the Bible teaches through six key passages.
1. Philippians 4:13-19: God Provides for Generous Givers
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength… And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:13, 19 NIV)
We’re used to Philippians 4:13 being quoted about God providing us with strength when we need it, but read the rest of the verse and you find out its about financial partnership in ministry. Paul is thanking the Philippians church for their repeated financial support of his mission work. In context, Paul is saying he has learned contentment regardless of the circumstance. (v. 12), and he can handle any financial situation through Christ’s strength (v. 13). Then he commends the Philippians for sharing in his ministry through their gifts (v. 14-16).
The Promise: After affirming their generosity, Paul declares one of Scripture’s greatest giving promises: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 19).
Application:
- God notices and values our financial partnership in His work
- Generous giving is a spiritual discipline that requires Christ’s strength
- God promises to provide for those who give sacrificially to kingdom purposes
- Our contentment comes from Christ, not our bank account
The Philippians had given even when they themselves had little. Paul assures them that God will take care of them as they’ve taken care of His work.
2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: The Heart Behind the Gift
“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.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV)
This is perhaps the Bible’s clearest teaching on the attitude of giving. Paul uses an agricultural metaphor: farmers who plant sparingly get small harvests; those who plant generously reap abundantly. The same principle applies to our giving—not that God mechanically rewards every dollar, but that generosity creates blessing.
The Key Phrase: “God loves a cheerful giver.”
The Greek word for “cheerful” here is hilaros—where we get our word “hilarious.” God delights in giving that flows from joy, not guilt or obligation.
Application:
- Giving should be intentional, not impulsive (“decided in your heart”)
- The amount matters less than the attitude
- Forced giving or guilt-driven giving misses God’s heart
- Joyful generosity pleases God more than begrudging large gifts
- There’s a spiritual harvest that comes from sowing generously
Notice Paul doesn’t specify an amount or percentage. The focus is on willing, joyful giving from the heart.
3. Malachi 3:8-10: The Principle of the Tithe
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. 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.”(Malachi 3:8-10 NIV)
This Old Testament passage addresses Israel’s failure to bring tithes (10% of their produce) to support the temple and priests. While Christians debate whether the tithe is required under the New Covenant, the principle remains instructive: God expects His people to give back a portion of what He’s provided.
Application:
- The tithe (10%) provides a concrete starting point for giving
- Withholding from God what belongs to Him is serious
- God invites us to “test” Him by giving and watching Him provide
- Giving isn’t just about the local church—it includes supporting God’s work broadly
- God promises blessing for faithful giving (though not necessarily financial blessing)
Many Christians use the tithe as a minimum baseline, recognizing that grace should inspire greater generosity than law required. If 10% was expected under the Old Covenant, shouldn’t those living under grace give at least as much?
4. Luke 21:1-4: The Widow’s Sacrificial Gift
“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” (Luke 21:1-4 NIV)
Jesus watches people giving at the temple and makes a stunning observation: the widow who gave two small coins gave more than the wealthy donors.
How? Because giving is measured not by the amount, but by the sacrifice.
Application:
- God measures our giving by what we keep, not just what we give
- Percentage matters more than dollar amount
- Sacrificial giving demonstrates extraordinary faith
- The widow trusted God to provide after giving everything
- Our gifts should “cost” us something to be meaningful
The wealthy gave large sums from their abundance—convenient giving that didn’t affect their lifestyle. The widow gave everything she had, trusting God completely for her next meal.
This doesn’t mean we should all give ourselves into poverty, but it challenges us: Does our giving require faith? Does it cost us something?
Giving to God is worship.
5. Acts 20:35: The Joy of Giving
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35 NIV)
Paul quotes Jesus’s teaching (not recorded in the Gospels but preserved in the early church): “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
This flips our natural human instinct. We’re wired to accumulate, not distribute. Jesus says the greater blessing—the deeper satisfaction—comes from giving.
Application:
- Generosity brings more joy than acquiring possessions
- Giving is a form of worship and spiritual discipline
- We should work hard partly so we can help others
- The Christian life is fundamentally others-focused
- True blessing comes from being generous, not getting more
Paul modeled this himself. He worked as a tentmaker to support his ministry and help the weak, demonstrating that giving isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s for everyone who works.
6. Matthew 6:2-4: Secret Giving
“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.” (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)
Jesus assumes His followers will give (“when you give,” not “if you give”), but He warns against using giving to gain recognition.
In Jesus’s day, wealthy people would literally announce their giving in public to gain praise. Jesus says such givers already have their reward—human applause—but nothing more.
Application:
- Give quietly, without seeking recognition
- God sees and rewards secret generosity
- Our motive matters as much as our action
- Pride can corrupt even good deeds like giving
- The greatest reward comes from God, not people
This doesn’t mean all giving must be completely anonymous—public giving can inspire others. But our primary motive should be pleasing God, not impressing people.
Five Principles for Biblical Giving
From these passages, we can identify five core principles:
1. Give Willingly and Joyfully
God wants cheerful givers, not reluctant ones. If you’re giving out of guilt or pressure, pause and ask God to change your heart first.
2. Give Sacrificially, Not Just Conveniently
Biblical giving should require some faith. If your giving never causes you to trust God for provision, you may not be giving biblically.
3. Give Regularly and Systematically
Paul instructed the Corinthians to “set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income” on the first day of every week (1 Corinthians 16:2). Make giving a regular habit, not an occasional impulse.
4. Give Generously, Starting with the Tithe
While Christians aren’t under Old Testament law, the tithe (10%) provides a helpful starting benchmark. Many who love Jesus give far more.
5. Give Secretly, Without Seeking Recognition
Let your giving be between you and God. Seek His approval, not human applause.
Where Should You Give?
The Bible doesn’t prescribe a single answer, but offers several priorities:
- Your local church – Supporting your church family and shepherds is biblical (1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Timothy 5:17-18)
- he poor and needy – Scripture repeatedly emphasizes caring for the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 15:11, James 1:27)
- Kingdom work and missions – Spreading the gospel to unreached peoples honors the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Ministry workers – Supporting those who share the gospel full-time follows New Testament practice (Philippians 4:15-16)
Rather than choosing one exclusively, consider distributing your giving across these biblical priorities, with the majority supporting your local church while also investing in broader kingdom purposes.
What If You Can’t Afford to Give?
This question reveals our mindset. The biblical response is: You can’t afford NOT to give.
The Macedonian churches gave “even beyond their ability” despite their “extreme poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). The widow gave her last two coins. God honors faith-filled giving even when—especially when—it requires sacrifice.
That said, wisdom matters. If you’re drowning in high-interest debt, focus on getting financially stable while giving what you can. God cares about your heart and your steps toward generosity, not just the dollar amount.
The Ultimate Example of Giving
Behind every biblical command to give stands the ultimate example: God’s gift of His Son.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
God gave His most precious treasure—His only Son—to rescue us. Jesus gave His life so we could have eternal life. The cross is the ultimate expression of sacrificial, costly, love-driven giving.
Our giving is simply a response to what we’ve already received. We give because He first gave to us.
Start Your Giving Journey
If you’re not currently giving, here’s a simple way to start:
- Pray – Ask God to create a generous heart in you
- Start small – If 10% feels overwhelming, begin with 3% or 5% and work up
- Make it automatic – Set up recurring giving so it becomes a habit
- Give to what you value – Support ministries doing work you care about
- Trust God – Step out in faith and watch Him provide
Remember Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” God is faithful. He will take care of you as you invest in His kingdom.
Want to learn more about generous giving? Explore our complete guide to [giving wisely to missions] or discover [the journey of generosity] through biblical teaching on stewardship and kingdom investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is tithing required for Christians?
The New Testament doesn’t command tithing, but many Christians use 10% as a starting benchmark, recognizing that grace should inspire greater generosity than law required.
Q: Should I tithe on my gross or net income?
The Bible doesn’t specify. Some give on gross income (“firstfruits”), others on net. What matters most is that you give intentionally and joyfully.Larry Burkett would always answer the question, “Do you want to be blessed on the gross or the net?”
Q: Can I give to ministries other than my church?
Yes. While supporting your local church is important, the Bible also calls us to support missions, care for the poor, and invest in various kingdom purposes.
Q: What if my spouse doesn’t want to give as much as I do?
Seek unity. Pray together, study Scripture together, and find a giving level you both feel peace about. Don’t let giving become a source of division.
Q: Does God promise financial blessing if I give?
God promises to meet your needs and often blesses generous givers, but not with a mechanical formula. Prosperity gospel teaching distorts biblical truth. Give out of love and obedience, not to manipulate God into making you wealthy.
Ready to put biblical generosity into practice? Learn how to evaluate missions organizations and discover how generous giving can change the world and also change you.
Mike Krieg is the Founder and Director of Storyline, a ministry that invests in leaders and indigenous churches making a difference on the frontlines of the Great Commission.
Learn more about Storyline | Listen to the Storyline Podcast