It’s that time of year again – I love Christmas! Can you imagine what it would be like without giving being such a major part of it? If you are a bit jaded about Christmas (like we all can become sometimes) I encourage you to really step back and try to become joyful about your giving. We have the opportunity to let the gifts we purchase be an obligatory purchase or we can choose to give a gift.
I think this was what Paul was talking about when he said, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“
The attitude behind it really matters. There is a huge difference between buying stuff that you feel (or are) obligated to, and intentionally (and cheerfully) giving something to another person.
And when you consider the possibilities of making homemade Christmas gifts that will be remembered it can really help put new meaning to giving gifts.
So if you need a little boost to your giving attitude this year, do a little meditating on the scriptures below. And for extra credit you can check out some of these inspiring giving quotes.
Giving Bible Verses
I decided to do a little study to find a bunch of verses about giving just to help me get my heart back to where it needed to be. These are 21 of the more popular giving Bible verses – feel free to add others to the comments…
Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
1 Chronicles 29:9
Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Proverbs 11:24-25
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 21:26
…the righteous gives and does not hold back.
Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Matthew 6:3-4
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Mark 12:41-44
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Luke 3:11
And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him wouldn’t perish, but would have eternal life.
Acts 20:35
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Romans 12:8
…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
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 send 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.
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?
Any other giving verses that you can think of?


{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Bob,
Thanks for the great list. It is timely and reinforces the true spirit of Christmas. John 3:16, which you listed, is not often thought of as a Christmas verse, but I like to think of it that way, for Christmas is all about God giving us his son.
Have a great Christmas!
Thanks for the list Bob!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Have a good day Bob..
Thank God for helping to know more about giving
I will practice it from now onwers
Thank you Bob for this wonderful set of verses. This’ll help train myself to be a true cheerful giver.
GBY
i find your verses touching and i feel that you continue the good work of the Lord . Give us the important verses of offerings, love and deliverance.
Thank you
I love your quotes , I was satisfied
Thank you, Keep the Good work up
Bob, I enjoyed your note & I share a lot of your passions. I’m a pastor of a church in Belleville, Mi. Keep up the good work !!
Very enlightening! I was a live liver donor on July 15, 2010 to my sister in law’s best friend. I did not know her well. I knew this gift would change both of our lives. And it has. I was asked to be a speaker at a Woman’s Ministry dinner. I found some of the above verses to help put what I did into prospective what God has asked. I will take some of these verses and put into my experience.
thanks
Thank u Bob. I nvr knew the secret behind succes, u brought a change into my life
Thanks so much for posting this. We decided to have church at home today since our kids are absolutely exhausted from Christmas. During our Bible time, I ‘m going to be teaching my kids about giving, and your verses will be perfect.
thank you so much for these bibile verses, they really help me in my youth group,
Bob, thanks for that list and also for stirring some of us to think a little and search for more giving verses. I have a few (citations are from the ESV):
Proverbs 14:31 – Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
Mark 10:21 – And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Luke 16:10-12 -One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
Galatians 6:6 – One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
Hebrews 11:4 – By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Bob,
Thanks for posting this. It makes it easier to give freely when we remember that Christ gave everything for us. We now owe Him everything we have. Since it is not ours anymore we cannot hold tighly to it.
Keep up the good work!
Blessings,
chris
Thanks for this.. I am the Exhorter at the Youth Service this week..I can use one of this.. STAY BLESSED..
-Christine
i have a problem i cannot give, what can i do.i know to give is good but i fail to give
Next time someone askes you for something, give it to them. Everyone can give, it’s selfless giving that is hard. if someone needs something, give it to them before they ask. Don’t give for what you can get, or to go to someone else to boast about it, but give out of love. the best thing you can do for someone is to let them know Jesus loves them.
Start small, and work up to the big stuff. If I was you I would start by giving some of my time to someone, just to be with them, and to listen.
Thnk you so much for the blessing and wise Words. they are all we are holding on to at such a crucial time
good day. M in need of the verse whch talks abt givng one rand a day
Thanks so much for the verses, they will be of great help in our church bible study.
Thank you for the verses! God spoke to me about giving yesterday. I heard…”if you want honey feed the bees!” That was out of this world.
I will obey.
Nice verses. encourages people to give and to love one another.
(Mal 3:10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Bob,
Thanks for the venture. I would like to add some verses.
Lk.12:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
Mt. 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.
Acts 2:44,45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.And sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone has need.
Also add,
1Tim. 5:18 For the Scripture says,” You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,”and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
All the verses are from NIV.
1 Tim.6:17 – 19 Command those who are rich in the present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works,ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
You are wondaful in sorting out this inspirational passages to believers. May God bless you real good.
Thanks for the verses,it helps a lot..We give back what God given to us.Every time we take out money from our wallet,the more have space of blessing will come.
READ THIS POST!!!!!
I do want to make one thing clear. Christmas, even though it is suppose to be about Christ, its more about using religion to make money. Christmas and giving gifts is realistically only about 100 yrs old.
This is what corporate America wants you to think, Show your family you love them, buy them gifts for Christmas.
Show your wife you love her, by her jewelry for your anniversary.
Basically Corporate america is trying to say “Gifts=Love”, in order to get more money in their pockets.
You can try to argue about the three gifts given to Jesus, but the thing is, Jesus is Lord, we are not. Christmas is nothing more than a method to make money off of people by the use of religion. Just like anniversary gifts are to make money off of the love you have or your spouse.
Brandon, I agree that holidays have been largely commercialized. But, I think giving gifts is actually one way you can say “I love you” to someone. It’s good to not go overboard during the holidays, but it’s also a good thing to show others you care – gift or no gift. Agreed?
i want to know more about BIBLE
The best way to learn more is by reading it for yourself! Try this site: http://www.biblegateway.com (NIV and KJV translations are among the most popular). There are also a lot of reading plans at this site: http://www.youversion.com/bible/john.1.kjv God bless!
Thank You for all the verses its helps a lot for me and my personal study, and now I include you in my prayers! What a wonderful way unite with brothers and sisters of the Lord.
Ask and you will be given! Seek and you will find! Knock and it will be open!
I’m looking for a verse that states: when you are giving to others from a free source of food that you may take a portion for yourself.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:17-18
The Bible verses were very useful to me especially for preparation of my references to topics. Thanks
Hello Bob, Many thanks for this. I’m researching for verses to include in a letter to members of the community for our Love in the Box charity program. Here are two more:
Proverbs 11:25
Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.
2 Corinthians 9:11-15
11 He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us. 12 For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God’s people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God. 13 And because of the proof which this service of yours brings, many will give glory to God for your loyalty to the gospel of Christ, which you profess, and for your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. 14 And so with deep affection they will pray for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown you. 15 Let us thank God for his priceless gift!
God bless!
I wld like to thank u for sharing ths kind of gospel wth us may the Lord take u to high places.
Great list, thanks! I will use many of these verses as we release our website to encourage giving without receiving ,this month. Please get the word out! Thanks and God bless!
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love,which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints , and do minister .
The verses are inspirational and they have enlightened me a lot on giving as an act of love and worship. May the good Lord bless you.
I have used Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Thanks for sharing this. My wife, 3 kids (10, 8, and 4), and I are headed out this morning to do some random acts of kindness for people in our town. We encouraged the kids to give what they were willing out of their own money towards the day and adding it to what my wife and I put in the pile. We were amazed at their generosity! We are reading this post and the verses prior to heading out for the day. Thanks again for putting these together!
O Lord my God… Please give me the grace and wisdom to be a very great and cheerful giver all my life in Jesus name… Amen !
In Jesus name Amen!!
I thank The Almighty God for his word with which he reveals all these things to us.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Luke 12:33
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with a treasure in the Heavens that does not fail.”
2 Corinthians 8:11-12 (GNT) On with it, then, and finish the job! Be as eager to finish it as you were to plan it, and do it with what you now have. If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don’t have.
Bob
I’m preparing to teach on Commitment……Wow thanks for your input with these 21 Bible verses on Giving.
Terry
Tanx 4 dis great bible passages concerning giving.