What does the Bible say about giving?
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you" (Luke 6:38).
"Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward them for what they have done" (Proverbs 19:17).
"Those who give freely will be blessed. That’s because they share their food with those who are poor" (Proverbs 22:9).
The Bible encourages us to give to those in need.The apostle Paul tells us, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). As Paul says here, God loves a cheerful giver. A cheerful giver is someone who gives because they truly want to give.
Cheerful givers are not going to give because they have to or because they feel guilt. You can be a cheerful giver, too! Maybe you have been given a weekly allowance, or you have a small after school job. With the money you are earning, you could think about giving some of the money to your church or to help struggling families in your neighborhood. By giving to the church or buying groceries for neighbors, you will truly be a cheerful giver.
Jesus gave up so much for us when He died on the cross for our sins (John 3:16–17). Following His lead, we need to be faithful givers, too. Even though Jesus won't call us to die on the cross, He might call us to give to ministries, churches, or people who are in need. We need to listen to Him and give as He directs. With joy and love in our hearts, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the lost world.
