39 Powerful Bible Verses About Giving

There have been several times in my life when God has emphasized the power of giving.

Several years ago I was invited to lead a mission trip to a war torn village in North African. I was asked to bring a small team to build a rudimentary clinic for doctors serving villagers that had been effected by the war.

At the time I did not have the money to go, and was battling fear. It was a dangerous area, but the need was great, and a close friend had made the request. I prayed, throwing out a fleece to God, “If you provide the funding Lord, I will go.” The next day I received an “unsolicited” check in the mail from a friend for $2,000, enough to cover the full cost of my trip.

When our team arrived in country we were placed under a travel restriction. We were confined to the capital for the length of our stay. We had the opportunity to encourage some of the Christian leaders in the area, but for the most part our trip seemed like a waste of time and money.

I know now that nothing is truly wasted in God’s economy. An engineer who accompanied me on that trip caught a vision for mission work while we were there. He returned with his family to share the gospel and install wells to provide safe drinking water. Today people are opening their hearts to the grace of God through his ministry.

The Bible talks about sowing seeds of faith through generous giving, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). When my friend gave $2,000 he was sowing a seed of faith. It took time for that seed to take root, but to this day it is producing a spiritual harvest.

I’ve been honored to work for several Christian non-profit organizations throughout my life. Most of them have served the poor in some fashion: providing medical relief, safe housing, job training, and rescue from substance abuse. Those ministries would not have been possible without donors who wanted to honor God through their generosity.

God promises to bless those who are generous to the poor. God promises repayment for our generosity. When we give, the Bible says we are storing up treasures in heaven. Giving has given me joy. It has helped me to fight off unhealthy attachments to worldly things, and to engage more deeply in God’s priorities. The saying is true, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). By investing in God’s kingdom my heart aligns with God’s values and I experience His spiritual blessings.

The following Bible verses about giving teach us how to give in a way that helps others while also honoring God. I hope that they encourage you to be more generous. By giving we have the privilege of participating in God’s kingdom work.

What the Bible Says about Giving

Give to Honor God

Proverbs 3:9


Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.

Give because God has generously given to you

Deuteronomy 8:18

Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 16:16-17

No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed. Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.

1 Chronicles 29:12-14

Everything in heaven and earth is Yours, O LORD. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. “God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

Giving is an expression of God’s love

1 John 3:17

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Give to support the work of the church

Romans 12:13

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

1 Timothy 5:17-18

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

3 John 5-8 

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Give to store up treasures in heaven

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How to Give

Give anonymously

Matthew 6:1-4

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Give willingly and cheerfully

Deuteronomy 15:10

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7


The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Give sacrificially

Luke 3:10

Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.

2 Corinthians 8:3

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord.

Give with a spirit of compassion and love

Proverbs 3:27


Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

1 Corinthians 13:3

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Set a goal to excel at giving

2 Corinthians 8:7

Just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Bible Verses about Giving to Others

Loan money without interest

Leviticus 25:36-37 


Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.

Give to everyone who asks

Luke 6:30 


Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

Give to those in need

Matthew 25:34-40

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you. did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Luke 12:33

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

James 2:15-16

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Bible Verses about Giving to the Poor

Deuteronomy 15:7-8


If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Proverbs 19:17


Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 22:9

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Proverbs 28:27

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Benefits of Giving in the Bible

Deuteronomy 15:10 


You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Proverbs 3:9–10

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Proverbs 11:24


One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Malachi 3:8-10

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Luke 6:38

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.

1 Timothy 6:17–19

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Examples of Generous Giving in the Bible

Genesis 14:18-20 

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Luke 21:1-4

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Acts 2:44–45

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Acts 4:34-37

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 20:35

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

2 Corinthians 8:1–5

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Philippians 4:15-17

And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

Quotes to Inspire Giving

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” - John Wesley

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” - C. S. Lewis

“It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” - Mother Teresa

“A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s” - Tim Keller

“God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” - Augustine

“God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.” - Randy Alcorn

“No person was ever honored for what he received. He was honored for what he gave.” - Calvin Coolidge

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” - Billy Graham

“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.” - A. W. Tozer

A Prayer for Generosity

Heavenly Father,

You are the giver of all life. You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. In you there is complete supply. I adore you, for you are the King of Kings, yet you see me, and know me, and fill me with your love, your presence, your joy, and your graciousness. You have poured out your blessings upon me. There is none like you.

Lord I confess that I have not always been the best steward of your gifts. Forgive me and help me to be more generous. I sometimes worry about my future instead of seeking first your kingdom. Help me to trust in you for my provision.

When I step back to get perspective, I remember your faithfulness. I am reminded of how you provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. You provided for prophet Elijah when he felt alone and abandoned. You have provided for me in the same way. You have never forsaken me. You have never abandoned me. Thank you for providing for my needs.

Thank you for blessing me with a home and family. Thank you for trusting me with talents and treasures that I can use to honor you.

Help me to be a better steward of your gifts. Grow in me a heart of generosity. Help me to see the poor as image bearers of Christ (Matthew 25:40). Help me to be more charitable and open handed to those in need.

In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Additional Resources for Giving

If these Bible verses have been an encouragement to you or provoked you to be more generous, please pass them on to others who might benefit from them as well. Share this post on Facebook, Pinterest, or email the link to a friend. Now more than ever, our world needs the generosity of God’s people.

In addition to the Bible, the following books have helped me to become a more generous person. They are worth reading if you have the time and inclination.

Money, Possessions, & Eternity by Randy Alcorn

Who wants to settle for fleeting treasures on earth, when God offers everlasting treasures in heaven? It’s time to rethink our perspectives on money and possessions.

Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give by Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert

The six keys outlined in this book provide the framework and action steps needed to experience a world in which everyone flourishes. This is a must read for every business and community leader who is longing for something more but can’t quite put their finger on it.

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity by Ronald Sider

Why do 1.3 billion people live in abject poverty? And what should Christians do about it? This book gives practical advise on how to develop habits of generosity to help those in need.

Storm the Gates: Provoking the Church to Fulfill God’s Mission by Nathan Cook

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Enemy-occupied territory - that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed...and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage."

Storm the Gates provides a Biblical framework and practical advice for undermining the systems of the world through love, forgiveness, and generosity.

These recommended resources are for sale on Amazon. Clicking on the link will take you to the Amazon store. As an Amazon associate I earn a percentage of the sale from qualifying purchases. The revenue I earn from Amazon helps to support the maintenance of this site.