What Does the Bible Teach About Giving?

A brother in Christ asked the question, “What does the Bible teach about giving?” The question is an important one because giving is a portion of the foundation for our understanding and practice of worship. Let’s take some time to ponder this question a little more detailed than what we normally do at “You Asked For It.”

Did you know that the Bible speaks a lot about money? Depending on the version of the Bible that you use, there are over 2000 verses that speak about money, tithing and possessions. That number is more than twice as many verses as there are about faith and prayer combined. Some of these statistics will startle you:

• 16 out of 38 of the parables of Jesus deal with money and possessions
• Almost 25% of Jesus’ words recorded in the Gospels talk about stewardship
• One out of ten verses in the Gospels deal with money

Money, stewardship and possessions are an important topic. We will either worship our possessions or worship with our possessions. Powerful, isn’t it?

Paul writes a passage to the Corinthians that we should consider as we think about giving. Then, over the next few days, I will post four lessons from a series called “Keep on Casting: Change Your Giving; Change Your Living.” These lessons will offer a biblical perspective on our giving. At the end, we will try to answer some of the sticky questions about giving.

Here is Paul’s advice:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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 (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV).

There are so many important biblical principles packed into these three verses of Scripture. Generosity is addressed, as is the spirit we have when we give. I want you to focus on the next concept: “God is able to bless you abundantly.” If there is a principle about giving in the Bible that must form the foundation of everything else that we understand about giving, it is this. God can bless us abundantly.

When we think about giving, we naturally think about what we are giving up. We think of what we will not have because we give. “How will I be able to make ends meet if I give to God?” God wants you to think about possessions differently than the world thinks about them. God is the one who blesses us. He knows our needs before we even ask about them. We need to trust that God will take care of us. That is the lesson He wants us to learn.

Jesus taught that God gives better than our earthly fathers. But what father, when a child would ask for bread, would give the child a stone (Matthew 7:9)? God will provide for our needs when we trust in Him.

I am looking forward to posting these lessons. I hope these words begin to help our understanding.