10 Ways To Think Biblically About Giving
There are so many angles that Scripture gives us into what it means to give our money and resources away. Here are 10 suggested angles from a fresh Bible study of the topic. The first 3 are the most commonly described in Scripture.
1.Giving … with WORSHIP in mind
The people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. (1 Chron 29:9).
Fundamentally, giving is an act of worship and devotion. We give in delight and gratitude to the King who has given us ‘every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places’ (Eph 1:3). (Prov 19:17; Matt 6:1-4; Prov 3:9-10; Heb 13:15-16; Matt 25:35-40; 2 Cor 9:12; Mark 12:41-44 ; Matt 6:33).
2. Giving … with the POOR in mind
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed (Prov 19:17)
This is a consistent theme across both Old and New Testament: the people of God give a significant proportion of their income to ensure that there are no poor amongst them and indeed that those far from God are also cared for in their need. (2 Cor 8:4; Deut 15:7-11; Luke 11:42; Rom 12:13; James 2:14-17; Acts 2:44-45; Rom 12:8; Gal 2:10).
3. Giving … with BLESSING and PROVISION in mind
“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
It is remarkable just how many times the Bible tells us to expect to be blessed when we give! We shouldn't be embarrassed by this and should exhort as scripture exhorts. (2 Cor 9:6; Heb 13:5; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35: Matt 6:4; 1 Tim 6:17-19; Matt 6:33; Prov 22:9; Prov 28:27; Phil 4:19; Prov 11:24-25; Deut 15:10; Mal 3:8-12; Luke 12:7).
4. Giving … with our HEART in mind
We are under no obligation to give! Rather we want hearts won by grace. Tim Keller says, ‘when you consider how much to give, don’t sit down with a calculator, sit down with a cross.’ (Mark 12:41-44; 2 Cor 9:7; Matt 6:1-4; Deut 15:10,Matt 6:21 ).
5. Giving with OBEDIENCE in mind
Paul tells Timothy to simply command the rich to give - that’s us! But again, this is a heart disposition: hearts that are filled with gratitude to the Son who joyfully obeyed the Father and went to the cross for us will want to obey all that the Son commands. (1 Tim 6:17-19; Mal 3:8-12).
6. Giving … with RIVALS (to our heart’s affections) in mind
Scripture is so clear that money has a unique ability to lure our hearts away from devotion to the one God and create a host of mini, false gods for us. Such idolatry doesn’t only dishonour the true God but it also disappoints and damages us. (1 Tim 6:6-10; Heb 13:5; Deut 8:18; Matt 19:21; Matt 6:24; Luke 12:15; Ecc 5:10).
7. Giving … with ETERNITY in mind
We have the opportunity to make the best possible investment with our money: one that will reap rewards for the rest of time! We’re living for an eternal Kingdom and we want our resources to go to that end. (1 Tim 6:7; Matt 6:19-21; Prov 11:4; Luke 12:33).
8. Giving … with SALVATION’s evidence in mind
The Bible is clear that salvation is through faith alone but it is not faith that remains alone. Saving faith is evidenced by a transformed life, by the character of Jesus, by the good works for which we were saved! (Eph 2:10). (1 John 3:12; James 5:14-17)
9. Giving … with GRACE in mind
We give because he first gave himself to us; we excel in grace because He lavished grace upon us; we go without because he gave up everything for us; we love the Church because he first lived, died and rose for it - it's all grace! ( 2Cor 8:9; 2 Cor 9:8; John 3:16; Rom 12:8)
10. Giving … with PROPORTION in mind
It is important to talk about giving from our means. After all this is about the heart, not the amount. We want to be clear on good stewardship and on proportional giving … as well as let Scripture challenge the latter where it does so! ( 2 Cor 8:3; Mark 12:41-44, 2 Cor 8:3 (challenges this!); Deut 16:17; Luke 14:28-30).