Why is giving such a focus in the Christian faith?

what does the bible say?

Giving is a central focus in the Christian faith because it reflects God’s own generosity and teaches believers to trust in His provision. It encourages a heart of humility and service, prioritizing others’ needs over personal gain. The Bible stresses that giving should be done willingly and cheerfully, not out of obligation. The Bible also reveals that giving is a means of worship and obedience to God. Generosity takes care of others’ needs, and it reveals God’s heart. Ultimately, giving provides believers the opportunity to honor God with what He’s given us. Giving has eternal purposes and puts earthly wealth in its proper perspective.

from the old testament

Generosity is an attribute of God. As the Creator God, He has an abundance of resources that never runs out (Psalm 103:8; Isaiah 55:1–7), and He loves to give.God challenges His people to trust Him with their tithes (Malachi 3:10). We can give because God is trustworthy to provide and use our generosity for good.Proverbs 11:25 illustrates that when we bless others, we are blessed in return. Generosity has a ripple effect, where the giver benefits as much as the recipient.

from the new testament

The Bible says, "Give, and it will be given to you," and "with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). God promises to provide abundantly when we are generous.God’s abundance and generosity are also seen in the New Testament (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Romans 5:20; James 1:5).God gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save people from their sins and give eternal life to all who will accept Him (John 3:16–17).Paul emphasizes the principle of generosity in 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, saying that the more you give, the more you will receive, but it should come from a willing heart, not out of obligation. God values the attitude of the giver over the amount given.Paul reminds the church of Jesus's teaching that generosity brings more joy than receiving (Acts 20:35). Helping others, especially those in need, reflects the heart of God and brings spiritual fulfillment.God is generous. As Christians grow nearer to God and understand His character more and more, we become more like Him. This process is called sanctification, also a work of God (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Like children, we imitate our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:1). He is generous, so we become generous, too.Giving should be a joy, and for that reason, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).Giving is not about the amount but about the willingness and ability to give (2 Corinthians 8:12). God looks at the heart of the giver, not the size of the gift. It’s the attitude that matters, not whether someone can give abundantly.Jesus highlights that true generosity isn’t about the amount given, but the sacrifice made. The widow who gave everything she had demonstrated that God values the heart behind the gift, not the size of the contribution (Luke 21:1–4).Paul encourages the wealthy to use their resources for good (1 Timothy 6:17–19). He also calls them not to trust in their riches, but in God. Wealth is a tool for serving others and meant to be used for kingdom, eternal purposes, not for selfish gain.Believers are called to do good and to share what we have (Hebrews 13:16). The Bible acknowledges that this is a sacrifice but also tells us that it is pleasing to God.

implications for today

It is often difficult to give. A reluctance to give is usually caused by fear—fear that we will not have enough time, money, food, etc. for ourselves. But when we trust God (Proverbs 3:5–6), giving becomes easier. And as we see Him consistently take care of us, it increases our faith. Seeing God at work is exciting and reinforces our belief. But if we always try to take care of ourselves, we miss the blessing of seeing Him take care of us. Giving is a good habit to get into because it helps break the cycle of self-dependence, which hinders faith.

That said, giving should be done wisely. God gave us minds, which can analyze, and intuition, which can sense when something is a "bad deal." Giving should not cause strain, but joy. And giving should result in more for everyone—there is nothing righteous about sending money into a sinkhole or padding the pockets of a charlatan.

By giving wisely and cheerfully to all who have need, believers make a statement to those around them. We are depending on God for everything we need because we know he is faithful to provide (1 Kings 17:8–16). We are not trusting in money or possessions for happiness because there is something beyond this world that is better and that we are looking forward to. "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread" (Psalm 37:25).