Read each portion of Scripture and after it state the principle of giving it teaches.

Matthew 6:1-4 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

 

 

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

 

Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 

 

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

 

 

Mark 12:41-44 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

 

Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

1 Chronicles 29:14b For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

 

What principles did you come up with? We’re to be cheerful, give to the poor, be generous, give in secret, give with sacrifice, share what you have, store up in heaven instead of on earth. And we can do all that because it’s all God’s anyways. We’re just giving back what He gave us in the first place.

Which areas of giving are you best at? Which ones do you need to improve in?

Giving money isn’t the only way to help others. You can give your time, your energy, your muscle, your asked-for advice, your help, your expertise, etc.

I think the verses below from Galatians apply well to all types of giving.

Galatians 6:9-10 (BSB) Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

What do those verses teach us about giving?

We can need endurance to give. It takes something to give. It is a sacrifice. We need to always be remembering the sacrifices Jesus made for us to help spur us on to make sacrifices for others.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We need to remember that giving is an expression of love, and we’re commanded to love others. The love of God in our hearts should compel us to give with compassion, with joy, with faithfulness.

Lesson Point: We’re commanded to give cheerfully and sacrificially, especially to believers in need.

Challenge Question: Does your giving match up with these Scriptures? One problem with giving only to your own church is that much of it benefits you. We need to be sure to be giving outside of ourselves where we aren’t expecting anything in return. If you think you are “too poor” to give, read the first several verses of 2 Corinthians 8. If you wonder about the idea of tithing, the best verses for it are from Genesis 14:20/Hebrews 7:2.