Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 “Give generously, for your gifts will return later. Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need help”. Give to everyone who asks and do not ask people to return what they have taken from you.

 

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”.

 

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

 

Deuteronomy 24:19 "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." Early Christians also cultivated the habit of giving,

 

Acts 2:45 says “and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”.

 

-1 John 3:17 , But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

 

Throughout the bible God encouraged giving. Giving expresses our love for God and for one another. It is unwise to be self centered and half hearted. Give what you have no matter how small. Remember the widow’s mite; Luke 21:1-4 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” You need not be wealthy in order to give. We can also share our time, energy, effort and wealth.

 

-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”.

 

Give to strangers like the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37.

 

-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.

 

-Give to those who proclaim God’s message, 1Corinthians 9:14 says “in the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel”. Matthew 10:42 reads “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Give to your enemies and loved ones.