SpiriseBible
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
God loves a cheerful giver—not merely a giver, but a cheerful one. This reveals that God cares as much about our attitude in giving as the act itself. Biblical giving isn't a burdensome obligation but a joyful privilege that flows from understanding God's generous heart. When we grasp that everything we have is already His, giving becomes not losing but investing in eternal purposes.
The Foundation: God's Example
All giving starts with God's character:
God is the ultimate giver: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). The greatest gift ever given sets our standard.
God gives abundantly: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). He doesn't give sparingly.
God gives continuously: "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25). Every heartbeat is His gift.
God gives sacrificially: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
When we give, we reflect God's nature and participate in His generous character.
Biblical Principles of Giving
Scripture provides clear guidance for generous living:
1. Give first to God: "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9). God gets the first portion, not leftovers.
2. Give proportionally: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Corinthians 16:2). Giving matches God's blessing.
3. Give systematically: Regular giving prevents impulsive or emotional decisions. Plan your generosity.
4. Give secretly: "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Matthew 6:3). Anonymous giving purifies motives.
5. Give sacrificially: The widow's two mites meant more than the rich men's abundance because "she of her want did cast in all that she had" (Mark 12:44).
Types of Biblical Giving
Scripture describes various expressions of generosity:
Tithes: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse" (Malachi 3:10). The tithe (10%) establishes a baseline of obedience.
Offerings: Given above the tithe as expressions of gratitude, worship, or special need.
Alms: "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD" (Proverbs 19:17). Caring for the needy reflects God's heart.
Hospitality: "Use hospitality one to another without grudging" (1 Peter 4:9). Opening our homes is giving.
Time and talents: "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another" (1 Peter 4:10).
The Heart Behind Giving
Motivation matters more than amount:
Love, not law: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3).
Faith, not fear: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). We give trusting God's provision.
Joy, not guilt: "God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Greek word means "hilarious"—giving should bring joy!
Worship, not waste: When Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus, He said, "She hath done what she could" (Mark 14:8). Extravagant giving honors God.
Obstacles to Generous Giving
What prevents the spirit of giving?
- Fear of lack: "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty" (Proverbs 11:24)
- Love of money: "For the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10)
- Materialism: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth" (Matthew 6:19)
- Selfishness: "Every man for himself" opposes God's way
- Lack of faith: Not trusting God to provide
- Poor planning: Disorganized finances hinder systematic giving
The Promises for Givers
God's Word overflows with promises for generous hearts:
- Provision: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38)
- Blessing: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35)
- Abundance: "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" (2 Corinthians 9:8)
- Eternal rewards: "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come" (1 Timothy 6:19)
- Joy: "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (Proverbs 11:25)
Practical Steps to Generous Living
How can we cultivate a giving spirit?
- Start where you are: Don't wait to be wealthy; give from what you have now
- Budget for giving: Make it a priority, not an afterthought
- Increase gradually: Challenge yourself to grow in percentage each year
- Give diversely: Support church, missions, poor, and special needs
- Involve family: Teach children generosity by example
- Track testimonies: Record how God provides as you give
- Use tools wisely: Apps like SpiriseBible can track giving goals and remind you of God's promises
Beyond Money: Holistic Giving
The spirit of giving encompasses all of life:
- Give encouragement: "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Give forgiveness: "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32)
- Give time: "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16)
- Give attention: "Bear ye one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2)
- Give prayer: "Pray one for another" (James 5:16)
The Ultimate Test
Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Our giving reveals our hearts. When we struggle to give, we're really struggling to trust God. When giving flows freely, it shows we've grasped His trustworthiness.
Reflection Questions
- Does your current giving reflect trust in God's provision or fear of lack? What needs to change?
- In what areas beyond finances is God calling you to be more generous?
- How can you move from dutiful giving to joyful generosity?
Prayer
Generous Father, You have given me everything—life, breath, salvation, and countless daily gifts. Forgive me for clutching tightly what You've freely given. Break the power of fear and greed in my life. Help me see giving not as loss but as worship, not as duty but as delight. Give me Your generous heart that finds joy in blessing others. Show me specific ways to grow in generosity with my money, time, talents, and attention. May my life reflect Your abundant giving. Help me trust that I can never out-give You. In Jesus' name, who gave everything for me, Amen.
Today's Challenge
Take three concrete steps toward greater generosity today: 1) Calculate what percentage of your income you currently give and prayerfully consider increasing it. 2) Find one person or organization with a specific need and give sacrificially to meet it—beyond your normal giving. 3) Give something non-monetary that costs you—time to help someone, forgiveness to someone who hurt you, or encouragement to someone struggling. Experience the joy of reflecting God's generous heart.
