Scripture teaches that believers are to manage their resources wisely, recognizing that everything belongs to God. In Luke 6:38, Jesus instructs His followers to give generously, promising that they will receive abundance in return. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, encouraging the church to give cheerfully and generously, citing the example of Christ's own selfless giving in 2 Corinthians 8:9. Additionally, Ephesians 4:28 emphasizes the importance of working and giving to support others, while 2 Corinthians 9:6 reminds us that our giving will reap a harvest of blessing.
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Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God. So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.