Tithing is one of the delicate and sensitive topics in our times. This makes sermons on giving to be generally frowned upon.
Yet, a majority of the verses in the Bible that deal with money speak on generosity. Giving to aid the work of God or to help those in need.
In the Bible, we see the Lord asking Israelites to bring forth their entire tithe to the Temple that there may be food. God also promises countless times that giving to the needy is not futile but that He will repay the giver. Jesus is seen speaking in the spirit of giving. Paul stresses cheerful giving.
The bottom line is- giving is essential both to the giver and the one who receives. If you want an in-depth look into the Word and what it has to say about giving, you're in luck. We have composed 50 Bible verses that touch on giving and giving generously to others:
Bible Verses About Giving
1. 2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
This verse shows that giving is for everyone regardless of their ability to give. A person should also share with the right kind of heart.
2. 1 Chronicles 29:14 KJV
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
These were David's words as he presented gifts to build the Temple to his son Solomon who was to make it.
3. Proverbs 18:16 KJV
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
This shows that being generous and polite can open doors for you.
4. Proverbs 11:25 KJV
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Solomon showed that one does not lose when one has God-guided generosity.
5. 2 Corinthians 8:12 KJV
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
God is keen on our readiness or willingness to give as these are what mark a generous heart to Him.
6. Luke 6:38 KJV
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
In this passage, Jesus was dispelling the fear of giving too much and wanted people to be free to provide as much as they would desire.
7. Proverbs 3:9 KJV
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
By being generous in a way that recognizes God as the great provider, we show that we trust in Him with all our heart.
8. 2 Corinthians 9:10 KJV
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
Paul recognizes that the Lord is the great supplier and asks Him that He may provide for the Corinthian Christians, that they may give more.
9. 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Paul teaches that the Lord blesses so that we can be a blessing to others.
10. 2 Corinthians 9:11 KJV
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Paul teaches that Christians should not live for themselves but to glorify God and for the good of others.
11. Proverbs 3:27 KJV
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Solomon was giving some practical examples of what wisdom teaches.
12. Malachi 3:10 KJV
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Earlier on, God had pointed out that the Israelites experienced problems and explained that these problems resulted from not bringing their tithes.
13. Matthew 6:2 KJV
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
It was a custom in those times for some to attract attention to their giving so that others may know that they are generous.
14. Luke 6:30 KJV
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
This kind of generosity can only be practiced if we are conversant with God's sacrificial love and know that He will take care of us.
15. Psalms 37:4 KJV
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
By taking delight in the Lord, God roots our desires in His will and is therefore willing to grant them to us.
16. Proverbs 21:26 KJV
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. This proverb shows that lazy people are continually facing disappointment why the righteous, who are implied to be hard working, have so much that they can give without sparing.
17. Matthew 19:21 KJV
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
The call to abandon everything and follow Jesus is a call to give precedence to God in all things.
18. 1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Since sacrifice is necessary, the absence of love makes it useless.
19. Psalms 37:21 KJV
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
David knew that the difference between the wicked and the righteous was in their conduct.
20. Matthew 10:8 KJV
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
When Jesus sent His disciples out to evangelize, they had a message to preach and the power to back it.
21. Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah uttered these words because people were mourning and weeping after the reading of the Word of God.
22. Proverbs 31:9 KJV
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
It was important for the king to be impartial in his judgment and use his power to protect the needy.
23. Matthew 6:3-4 KJV
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Jesus was urging Christians to avoid indulgent self-congratulation.
24. Acts 20:35 KJV
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
The quote of Jesus is unrecorded in the gospels but is an excellent reminder to ministers of God who are concerned about what their congregation can give them.
25. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 KJV
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
This passage gives new insight into giving: God's way of preventing us from greed and reliance on uncertain riches.
26. Mark 12:41-44 KJV
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
In this passage, Jesus' principle of giving is that the spirit behind the giving determines the value of the gift given and not the amount given. God loves a cheerful giver.
27. Luke 12:33-34 KJV
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The command to give everything we have is a test of discipleship. It also helps avoid covetousness.
28. Proverbs 19:17 KJV
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
God is promising that we will not lose anything by being generous and compassionate givers.
29. Hebrews 13:16 KJV
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Doing good and sharing are also forms of sacrifices that please God.
30. Proverbs 28:27 KJV
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
This verse also points out that giving away is the key to wealth.
31. James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
The writer of this book was thought to be James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus.
32. John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Every Christian should be a giver because God is also a giver.
33. Deuteronomy 15:10 KJV
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
God asked the Israelites to give to the poor and that the law of release that took effect in the seventh year should not discourage them from giving to the poor.
34. Proverbs 22:9 KJV
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Again, God's principle is that He blesses those that are generous to others.
35. Matthew 6:21 KJV
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus was speaking against materialism as it was in direct conflict with His disciples' loyalty to God.
36. 1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Paul stresses the principle of giving, that it should be systematic, and involve God in their giving.
37. Romans 12:13 KJV
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Our concern and care are evident in our deeds towards others either when we go to them or ask them over.
38. Deuteronomy 16:17 KJV
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
This was a command of God to the males in Israel; they should appear before the Lord three times in a year, and each man should give according to their ability.
39. Luke 3:11 KJV
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
These were John the Baptists' words to the people on what they should do; they should share and be fair to one another.
40. 1 Chronicles 29:9 KJV
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
This is a demonstration of the New Testament principle of cheerful giving. They were also encouraged to give by their leaders, i.e., King David.
41. 1 John 3:17 KJV
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
John did not condone loving by words alone but wanted the love to be shown in actions.
42. Matthew 10:42 KJV
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
What may seem like insignificant acts of kindness to God's people are seen by God.
43. James 2:15-16 KJV
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Failing to care for a brother or sister shows that one lacks living faith.
44. Luke 11:42 KJV
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
In this passage, Jesus was condemning the Pharisees for what they did not do and was not condemning tithing.
45. Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Jesus was pointing out that one should not serve their money but let the money serve the Lord as it would, in turn, serve them.
46. Galatians 6:6 KJV
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
The idea of sharing is locked on financial support but is not limited to this.
47. Matthew 25:35-40 KJV
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
These were the words of Jesus while speaking about the judgment day and how the charitable actions of brethren would speak for them.
48. Numbers 18:21 KJV
And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
This scripture shows that tithes belong to God, and therefore when an Israelite fails to give, they rob God.
49. Luke 21:1-4 KJV
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
In this passage, Jesus' principle of giving is that the spirit behind the giving determines the value of the gift given and not the amount given. God loves a cheerful giver.
50. Matthew 5:42 KJV
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
We might feel compelled to only help those that can help us back, but Jesus shows that we should help all that are in need.
Conclusion
We have seen that one, giving is expected of every Christian. Two, God is not interested in the amount that we give, but the intent in giving. Three, sharing is the gateway to wealth. The more we give, the more the Lord gives to us. Finally, giving is God's way of saving us from covetousness.
Prayer for the Reader:
Holy Spirit, the giver of every good thing, I pray for the reader. That you may sow the seeds of giving in their heart to reap bountifully. That just as you presented your son for their sake, that they too may be compelled to provide in a way that is pleasing to God. Save them from the spirit of glorifying themselves. May they be generously giving for Your glory and to help others. This I pray in faith. Amen.
