What Does the Bible say About Generosity? 5 Powerful Bible Verses

Learning and understanding what does the Bible say about generosity has become a personal pursuit.

It is helpful to study generosity in the Bible through Biblical characters, scripture, and stories.

When we are grateful and appreciative, it is easier to give more freely and exhibit generosity.

What does the Bible say about generosity? I experienced an example of 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? How a Small Boy Taught Me Its Big Meaning

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, who we learned was 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.

 

words-what does the Bible say about generosity

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’, we can begin by studying Bible verses about generosity and the faithful life of Christ in the four gospels of the New Testament 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. You learn that through giving, your heart grows closer to God and you discover a new type of joy.

kids holding hands-what does the Bible say about generosity

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.’

Hand with flowers-what does the bible say about generosity

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, you can think of Chungo and the woman at the temple. It is not enough to give from a surplus.

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.

 

giving flowers-what does the Bible say about generosityHow to Grow in Generosity

Learning how to grow in generosity is connected to the resources we manage in our daily lives. Our 3 main resources are time, money, and love.

How you manage these resources directly impacts your 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 in order 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 but we have to look for opportunities. 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

“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

How to Grow in Generosity with Your Money

What does the Bible say about generosity with your money?

Do you freely give MONEY away and sacrifice what you 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 He 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 own need to be loved to demonstrate LOVE to others? There is something empowering when you know that 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

 

hands with eggs-what does the bible say about generosity

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? Would love to hear from you in the comments!

 

 

Mary Rooney Armand

Mary Rooney Armand is an Author, Speaker, and Creator of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. She helps others grow in their intimacy with Christ and thrive in their relationships. Her work is featured on multiple websites including Women of Noble Character, Pray with Confidence, and The Brave Women Series. Mary is the author of, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Christ” and, “Life Changing Stories” a collaboration with 34 authors sharing stories of God’s faithfulness. Besides writing, Mary leads small groups and speaks at retreats. She directed Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program for children, worked in marketing and sales, and has led mission trips to Honduras. Mary is a life coach with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA. She and her wonderful husband Cory live in New Orleans and are the parents of four children, a new daughter-in-law, and two dogs! Connect with Mary on Instagram or Facebook.

62 Comments

  1. mimionlife on April 28, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    I pray I will always have a giving heart.

  2. Teresa on April 28, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    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!

    • Mary Rooney Armand on April 29, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Teresa, I am so glad you were touched by Chungo’s story! Thanks for stopping by and your kind words.

  3. Favoureddaughters on April 28, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    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.

  4. Jessica Brodie on April 28, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    I love this story of Chungo and his sacrifice! Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you!

    • Mary Rooney Armand on April 29, 2020 at 4:32 pm

      Jessica, thanks for reading and I am glad Chungo blessed you as well!

  5. Candice Brown on April 29, 2020 at 2:42 am

    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.

    • Mary Rooney Armand on April 29, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      Candice, I have many family members who live in Honduras and I pray for them often. Thanks for reading!

  6. Carmen Galloway on April 29, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    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!

    • Mary Rooney Armand on April 29, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      Carmen, thanks for stopping by and reading and your kind words!

  7. Leslie Newman on April 29, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    Loved the story about Chungo. Such a sweet spirit! Thank you for sharing and reminding us to be generous.

  8. nicki schroeder on April 29, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    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! 🙂

  9. Stephen on April 29, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    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..

  10. Lisa Q on April 30, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    Sweet children – they can teach us the most, sometimes! Appreciate the reminder that it truly is better to give than to receive.

  11. Ava Pennington on May 4, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    So convicting! Regardless of where we are – and where I am – on the generosity meter, there’s always room for improvement!

  12. Michelle Ling on June 24, 2020 at 2:13 am

    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!

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 24, 2020 at 8:24 pm

      Michelle, thanks for reading and I am glad Chungo inspired you as well to live generously!

  13. Sarah on June 24, 2020 at 4:02 am

    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.

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 24, 2020 at 8:23 pm

      Sarah, Chungo really touched me in so many ways because he had so little! Thanks for reading!

  14. Melodie A Haas on June 24, 2020 at 8:09 pm

    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!

  15. Timothy R. Berman on June 24, 2020 at 11:23 pm

    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?

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 26, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      Timothy, thanks for stopping by and reading. I also appreciate your added thoughts to the conversation!

  16. Donna Miller on June 26, 2020 at 12:06 am

    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¤

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 26, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      Donna, your comments are so encouraging! Thank you for reading and adding to the story!

  17. ordinarilyextraordinarymom on June 27, 2020 at 10:11 pm

    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.

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 28, 2020 at 5:50 pm

      Thank you for reading and adding to the generosity conversation!

  18. Betty Rojugbokan on June 28, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    I pray to get better at being generous, there’s joy in giving. It’s a joy like no other.

    • Mary Rooney Armand on June 28, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      Betty,
      Thanks for stopping by and yes, there is so much joy in giving!

  19. Tabatha Hull on June 28, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    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!

    • Mary Rooney Armand on July 1, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      Chungo had a big impact on me and I am glad his story touched you!

  20. Summer on June 28, 2020 at 10:54 pm

    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.

  21. Elizabeth Anderson on June 29, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    God blesses us so we can be a blessing. Generosity is important and I pray I will grow in it more. Thanks for sharing.

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