When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he described several gifts of grace given to believers. Among them was the gift of giving: “If it is giving, then give generously” (Romans 12:8). Paul was not merely describing the ability to write a check. The gift of giving is a God-given capacity to recognize needs and respond generously.
Giving encompasses time, talents, and treasure. Some people give financial resources; others give hours of service, professional expertise, hospitality, wisdom, or practical assistance. The common thread is a willingness to see what God has placed in one’s hands not merely as personal possessions but as resources that can bless others. (See our post: Is Stewardship Just About Money?)
This principle reaches back into the Old Testament. Solomon wrote, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17). Malachi challenged Israel to bring their tithes into God’s storehouse (Malachi 3:10). Giving, therefore, was understood as an expression of trust in God rather than simply an obligation.
Jesus carried the principle even further. He taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and in the story of the widow’s offering, He praised a woman who gave two small coins because she gave sacrificially (Mark 12:41–44). Jesus also warned against giving merely to impress others (Matthew 6:1–4). What matters is not simply the size of the gift but the heart behind it.
At a particularly challenging time in our family’s life, we were juggling bills when a letter arrived from a distant friend we had not seen for years and who lived thousands of miles away. Enclosed with the letter was a substantial check. “We don’t know if you have a specific need,” the friend wrote, “but believe that God has told us to send this to you. If you don’t need it, please pass it along as you see fit.”
We did need it. God knew and provided help in a most unexpected way.
The early Christian church embodied this spirit. Acts 4:32 describes believers sharing their possessions so that people in need were cared for. Paul later encouraged the Corinthians to give generously and cheerfully, saying, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Christian thinkers through the centuries have emphasized this connection between generosity and spiritual character. John Chrysostom, the 5th-century Archbishop of Constantinople, repeatedly challenged wealthy Christians to see their possessions as opportunities to serve the poor. C.S. Lewis similarly argued that Christian charity should actually affect our choices and comforts; he warned that if our giving never costs us anything, we may not be giving enough.
The gift of giving is therefore not fundamentally about money. It is about generosity of heart. A mother gives her time to a child, a teacher gives knowledge to a student, a skilled craftsman gives his abilities to a neighbor, and a business owner uses resources to help someone in need.
Ultimately, Christian giving reflects the character of God Himself. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). The person with the gift of giving understands that everything ultimately comes from God—and discovers the joy of becoming a channel through which God’s generosity reaches others.
If you don’t understand why God gave his “one and only son” and don’t realize that the gift was meant for you, we encourage you to visit our post: How Can I Become a Christian?
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If you would like to learn more about the gifts of the Spirit, we encourage you to pick up our 32-page booklet, Reflections on the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
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