The Bible has a great deal to say about giving. This study gathers passages from across Scripture and sets them out for reading and reflection.
What Scripture Says
The Bible’s teaching on giving begins with the ordinary kindness of everyday life. In Genesis 24:19, Rebekah does not stop at giving a stranger a drink; she offers to draw water for his camels too, “until they have done drinking.” Giving in Scripture is often pictured this way—meeting a real need, then going further than the minimum required. Deuteronomy 10:18 shows that this kind of care reflects God’s own character: He “doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” God Himself is a giver, and His giving is directed especially toward the vulnerable.
Giving is also how God provides for His people. Ruth 1:6 records that Naomi heard “how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.” When Solomon arranged for timber from Lebanon, his purpose was “giving food for my household” (1 Kings 5:9)—provision passing from one hand to another through honest agreement. Yet Scripture is clear that giving is not only material. In 2 Chronicles 6:23, God is asked to justify the righteous “by giving him according to his righteousness,” and Job 11:20 warns that the hope of the wicked will be “as the giving up of the ghost.” Giving can be blessing or loss, depending on the giver and the receiver.
The New Testament widens the picture further. Jesus noted that in the days before the flood people were “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matthew 24:38)—giving woven into the fabric of ordinary life, even while judgment approached. Luke 17:16 tells of a Samaritan who returned and “fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks.” Romans 4:20 says Abraham was “strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Ephesians 5:4 contrasts corrupt speech with “giving of thanks.” And 2 Corinthians 6:3 urges believers to be “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.”
So the breadth is striking. Scripture speaks of giving water, food, clothing, bread, thanks, glory, and no offence. There is also a sober warning: Acts 8:9 describes Simon “giving out that himself was some great one”—giving can be self-serving. And 1 Corinthians 14:7 uses instruments “giving sound” to teach that giving must be distinct and intelligible to be useful. Giving, in all its forms, is meant to be clear, humble, and directed toward the good of others and the glory of God.
Living It Out
Start where you are. Rebekah’s example suggests that giving begins with the need in front of you—a neighbor, a stranger, a family member—and does not stop at the convenient minimum. Look for ways to give food, clothing, time, or a listening ear to those who cannot repay you, remembering that God Himself loves the stranger and provides for the widow and fatherless. Giving thanks is also giving; Ephesians 5:4 and Luke 17:16 remind us that gratitude expressed to God and to people is a real offering, not a small thing.
At the same time, examine your motives. Simon’s error was giving out that he was great; our giving can quietly become about us. Ask whether your generosity points to God or to yourself, and whether it causes offence or builds others up. Give with faith like Abraham, who gave glory to God, and let your giving be distinct and sincere—not a performance, but a reflection of the God who gives.
Reflection
- Where in your life are you giving only the minimum when you could give “until they have done drinking”—and what holds you back from going further?
- When you give, whether money, time, or thanks, is your aim to glorify God or to be seen as “some great one”?
Verses to Consider
- Genesis 24:19 — And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
- Deuteronomy 10:18 — He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
- Ruth 1:6 — Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
- 1 Kings 5:9 — My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
- 2 Chronicles 6:23 — Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
- Ezra 3:11 — And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
- Job 11:20 — But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
- Matthew 24:38 — For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
- Luke 17:16 — And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
- Acts 8:9 — But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
- Romans 4:20 — He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
- 1 Corinthians 14:7 — And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 — Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- Ephesians 5:4 — Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Where These Come From
These verses are drawn from different parts of the Bible on purpose. A subject is rarely settled by a single line; the whole counsel of Scripture gives the shape of it.