What does the Bible say about generosity?
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NLT
You can study generosity in the Bible through scriptures, Biblical characters, and stories.
Being grateful and appreciative, makes it is easier to give more freely and exhibit generosity.
What does the Bible say about generosity? I experienced Biblical generosity during a special encounter with a little boy in a remote village in Honduras.
When I wonder, what is generosity? I am reminded of a small boy on a Honduran mountainside.
What is Generosity?
Walking on the lush, tropical mountainside of El Chile, Honduras, my cousin Maritza and I were surrounded by the flowering coffee trees, a dirty pigpen, and chickens wandering freely.
We stopped as she pointed to a small, clay house where my mother and her eleven siblings were raised. It was a primitive structure with dirt floors and an open fire burning.
As I turned around to take in the humbling panorama, a small boy approached seemingly out of nowhere.
The brown-eyed boy, named Chungo, was dressed in a faded t-shirt and tattered blue jeans.
He followed us from a distance before he made his move and timidly said, “Hola”. This small gesture was extremely courageous.
In one of his hands was a small, tan chicken egg. He extended his hand and sweetly gazed at me offering his generous gift.
He didn’t seem to wonder, what is generosity because it appeared giving was a natural response for him.
Knowing the egg could not travel with us, I wrestled with thoughts of what to say and what the egg cost him.
Sometimes when I struggle understanding what does the Bible say about generosity, I remember Chungo’s sacrificial gift and am reminded of the gift Christ offers us.
As I tried to decide how to handle the situation, it became clear that acceptance of his gift would bring Chungo great delight.
He asked to be remembered as he turned over the chicken egg.
For Chungo, the egg was not just an egg, it was a sacrifice. Meeting Chungo and his willingness to surrender a valuable gift as an offering of friendship has stayed with me.
Because of Chungo, learning how to be more generous became a goal.
It is humbling that someone so young, who owned so little could quietly answer, ‘what is generosity?’.
He demonstrated the Biblical principle that you experience more joy by giving than receiving.
Growing in Generosity
How does growing in generosity become a reality that we practice by giving freely regardless of the circumstances? When you are growing in generosity, you walk with a spirit of surrender, gratitude, and appreciation.
The characteristic of gratitude is an attitude and a decision that demonstrates appreciation. It is a trait I hope to exhibit in my life and teach my children as well.
Knowing you are loved and complete in Christ gives you the ability to be more appreciative and thankful.
This “attitude of gratitude” serves as a root system providing you with the capacity to be growing in generosity.
The action of giving with God-inspired motives, which is taught through scriptures about generosity, enables you to understand it is more blessed to give than receive, Generosity brings peace, contentment, and true happiness.
Generosity is contagious; when you are growing in generosity, it encourages others to give.
What Does the Bible Say About Generosity?
The Bible says that when your identity in Christ is secure you love and give to others from the overflow of God’s love for you.
Jesus demonstrated a spirit of generosity by pouring His life out to secure our salvation. The three years of His ministry on earth were full of examples of generosity in the Bible.
To understand, ‘what does the Bible say about generosity’, begin by studying Bible verses about generosity and the faithful life of Christ in the four gospels starting with the book of Matthew.
Bible Verses about Generosity
There are many Bible verses about generosity that you can turn to when wondering, ‘What does the Bible say about generosity’?
The Bible reveals that Jesus is the ultimate example of being generous.
We learn that through giving, our hearts grow closer to God and we discover a new type of joy.
5 Bible Verses about Generosity
- 1 John 3:16 NLT
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
- Matthew 20:28 NLT
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- John 10:11 NLT
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
- Acts 4:34 NLT
“There were no needy people among them because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.”
- Acts 20:34-35 NLT
“You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’“
Bible Story about Generosity
My Honduran friend reminded me of the Bible story Jesus told about generosity featuring the poor widow in the book of Mark:
“While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Mark 12:41-44 NLT
When you want to know what is generosity, think of Chungo and the woman at the temple. It is good to give from a surplus, but even better as a sacrifice.
Growing in generosity requires giving freely even when you don’t feel like letting go of something.
Growing in generosity requires that you sometimes give from a place of deficit. It causes you to place your trust in God and not your own ability. It shows what you are devoted to and the condition of your heart. Generosity causes you to be encouraged and grow in your faith.
How to Grow in Generosity
Learning how to grow in generosity is connected to the resources we manage.
Our 3 main resources are time, money, and love.
Managing these resources directly impacts the ability to do what the Bible says about generosity.
How to Grow in Generosity with Your Time
What does the Bible say about generosity with your time?
Do we sacrifice our TIME to invest and serve others? The Bible says that your life is like a mist or fog. It goes by quickly and once you spend it, it is gone.
Being intentional with our time can be hard if we are not careful. It is easy to get swept up in “busyness” instead of reflecting on what God is directing you to do.
It’s always a good time to demonstrate generosity to others; there are opportunities if we are looking.
Giving our time to help others solidifies relationships and helps us stay on purpose.
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:14-15 NLT
How to Grow in Generosity with Your Money
What does the Bible say about generosity with your money?
Do we freely give MONEY away and sacrifice what we want to buy in order to financially bless others?
This one is difficult because being controlled by money and all that it offers is intoxicating.
The Bible says the love of money can be destructive to your soul. Chungo exhibited a belief that God owns it all and ultimately meets your needs.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:10 NLT
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 NLT
How to Grow in Generosity with Your Love
What does the Bible say about generosity with your love?
Do you sacrifice your need to be loved to demonstrate LOVE to others?
It is empowering knowing you are loved by your Heavenly Father, allowing you to love others generously.
When operating from a place of God’s security, it is easier to pour out love on others. We are God’s beloved and nothing can separate us from Him.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow””not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Romans 8:38 NLT
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:7 NLT
How to Grow in Generosity: A Life Challenge
My chance encounter with Chungo created a life challenge on how to grow in generosity and be more willing to show appreciation to others.
It taught me that we can choose to be generous especially when we understand and grasp, ‘what does the Bible say about generosity’.
- When you are too busy, it is harder to be generous with your time.
- When you are financially strapped, it is harder to be generous with your money.
- When you are struggling in a relationship, it is harder to be generous with your love and love unconditionally.
Reliance on God helps us pull from His limitless reservoir so we can be like Chungo; we can grow in generosity to experience the blessing of giving instead of focusing on the need for receiving.
I can’t help but imagine what a different world it would be if everyone would grow in generosity.
When you understand, ‘what does the Bible say about generosity’ and use this wisdom to love others, you demonstrate the meaning of a generous heart.
A postscript to my serendipitous encounter with Chungo is I recently discovered his real name is Jesus, how perfect!
What have you learned about generosity?
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the creator and writer for the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple websites. She is the author of “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Christ” and “Life Changing Stories“—a collaboration with 34 authors available on Amazon.
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I pray I will always have a giving heart.
That is my prayer as well…thanks for reading!
Your storytelling in this article brought the spirit of “growing in generosity” to life for me. I think it’s the story of the little boy (now to go along with the widow) that will help me remember and be more intentional. I think i’ll share it with others too when the opportunity presents! Thank you!
Teresa, I am so glad you were touched by Chungo’s story! Thanks for stopping by and your kind words.
Thanks this awesome reminder! It’s a blessing to away give especially when it’s coming from a place of deficit. Great post! Great story shared! Great tips.
Favoureddaughters, thanks for reading and your kind words!
I love this story of Chungo and his sacrifice! Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you!
Jessica, thanks for reading and I am glad Chungo blessed you as well!
What a lovely encounter! It blows me away how giving those stricken by poverty are. They have riches we do well to catch from them.
Candice, I have many family members who live in Honduras and I pray for them often. Thanks for reading!
I love how you wrote your stories! The verse you chose from Acts challenged me and makes me think of earlier in Acts (chapter 2) of the generosity of the early church and how no one was in need. Thanks for writing!
Carmen, thanks for stopping by and reading and your kind words!
Loved the story about Chungo. Such a sweet spirit! Thank you for sharing and reminding us to be generous.
This right here… YES! “Knowing I am loved and complete in Christ gives me the ability to be more appreciative and thankful.” Love this story of Chungo! 🙂
Nicki, thanks for reading and your kind words!
Love it and I especially love the ending “Reliance on God gives me the ability to pull from His limitless reservoir so I can be like Chungo and become more generous and experience the blessing of giving instead of focusing on my need for receiving.” What a powerful way to live, that is also my desire… God Bless you and thanks for writing this..
Stephen, Thanks for reading and your great insight!
Sweet children – they can teach us the most, sometimes! Appreciate the reminder that it truly is better to give than to receive.
Lisa, thanks for stopping by!
So convicting! Regardless of where we are – and where I am – on the generosity meter, there’s always room for improvement!
Yes Ava, that is so true! Thanks for reading!
Really great post! I have definitely thought about how I need to be more generous. I could definitely give more in several aspects of my life, so thank you for reminding me in such a loving way!
Michelle, thanks for reading and I am glad Chungo inspired you as well to live generously!
I really enjoyed reading your reflections about generosity, Mary. It’s amazing how we can learn from people who have very little in terms of earthly possessions. They turn out to be the most generous and sacrificial people! It’s also a good reminder that there are different types of things we can give generously, like time and love.
Sarah, Chungo really touched me in so many ways because he had so little! Thanks for reading!
I really shouldn’t amaze me when I hear a great story of someone giving their all financially and their name was Jesus! God is always showing up in the wildest manners to bless us and then bless others!
Gratitude and Generosity. All of these virtues come from a place of humility and sweet surrender. Are we giving of our time with expectations of something in return? Are we blessing others in need when we are struggling ourselves? Are we making those sacrifices out of love and kindness – mercy and grace?
Timothy, thanks for stopping by and reading. I also appreciate your added thoughts to the conversation!
Mary I love this post! I am always in awe of how generosity grows our love, joy and our blessings. I am learning to be more generous too. I have definitely learned from a good friend who has almost nothing in her life. I have never seen her where she wasn’t so free and generous with her love, prayers, blessings and encouragement. Generosity is definitely a state of our heart! Beautiful post sweet friend … â¤
Donna, your comments are so encouraging! Thank you for reading and adding to the story!
Thank you for this reminder about what generosity truly is. In a very self-centered society, we can definitely focus on only being generous when it benefits us. That, however, is not what God requires. Sometimes we have to be generous, even when we have little to give.
Thank you for reading and adding to the generosity conversation!
I pray to get better at being generous, there’s joy in giving. It’s a joy like no other.
Betty,
Thanks for stopping by and yes, there is so much joy in giving!
Beautiful story! Chungo has learned at a young age what many of us never do. It truly is better to give than to receive! God knew what He was doing when He designed the human heart <3 Thank you for sharing!
Chungo had a big impact on me and I am glad his story touched you!
I so enjoyed reading this, Mary! I’ve been in Guatemala now for 18 years, and I have seen the kind of generosity that Chungo showed so many times. It did to me the same thing it did to you – totally changed my perspective on generosity.
Summer, Thanks for reading!
God blesses us so we can be a blessing. Generosity is important and I pray I will grow in it more. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth, thanks for reading!
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I grew up in a missionary household. Since it was the 80s, my parents were on the mission field without pre-determined downers. But we never went without. My parents taught me at a young age that every single thing we have is from The Lord. Having that mind set helps me be more generous. If it’s not mine to begin with, then I can pass it on to someone else.
Anne, love your mindset! Thanks for reading!
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