40 Scriptures on Giving

Living generously is one way God’s people are called to help others. Being generous doesn’t mean just sharing your finances. Generosity can look like lots of things, from spending time with a friend who’s going through a hard time to donating extra food to a local charity.

When we give, we also receive the joy of helping those in need. Let these Scriptures on giving inspire you to live a life of godly generosity.

Every Bible verse below is written in NIV unless otherwise noted.

What’s Here:

• 10 Bible Verses About God’s Generosity
• 15 Scriptures on Giving as a Lifestyle
• 10 Bible Verses About Giving to Fight Poverty
• 5 Examples of Generosity in the Bible
• How to Live Out These Scriptures on Giving

10 Bible Verses About God’s Generosity

1. 1 Chronicles 29:14

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.

2. 2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

3. James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

4. 2 Corinthians 9:10

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

5. Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

6. Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

7. Luke 11:13

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

8. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

9. Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

10. Ephesians 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

15 Scriptures on Giving as a Lifestyle

1. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2. 2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

3. 2 Corinthians 8:7

But since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

4. Luke 6:30

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

5. Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.

6. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7. Luke 3:11

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

8. Deuteronomy 8:18

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

9. Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

10. Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

11. Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

12. Proverbs 3:27

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

13. Deuteronomy 16:17

Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

14. Leviticus 27:30

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

15. Proverbs 21:25-26

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

10 Bible Verses About Giving to Fight Poverty

Here at Compassion, we’re continuously inspired by the children's sponsors who give financially to support children in poverty. Giving to children in need when they can’t give anything in return is a pure expression of God’s selfless love.

1. 1 John 3:17

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

2. Romans 12:13

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

3. Matthew 25:40

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

4. Matthew 6:2

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

5. Proverbs 31:9

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

6. 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.

7. Luke 12:33

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

8. James 2:15-16

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

9. Proverbs 28:27

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

10. Proverbs 22:9

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

5 Examples of Generosity in the Bible

1. Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

2. Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

3. Genesis 14:18-20

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

4. Philippians 4:15-17

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.

5. Acts 4:33-35

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

How to Live Out These Scriptures on Giving

These Bible verses about giving make it clear that as followers of Jesus, we’re called to give and to do so freely. So how do we live out these Scriptures? There are many ways to give generously.

For example, you could volunteer your time at a local shelter or simply take the time to call a hurting friend. You could even donate some of your finances to sponsor a child living in devastating poverty.

Remember: God calls us to be generous with all that we’ve been given. If you’re not sure how, ask him! Pray that God would guide you towards generosity and lead you into how to give.