What does the Bible say about generosity?

The Bible passages below can be used in sermons, prayers, pastoral care, or worship planning focused on generosity. 

God's generosity

• Matthew 20:15, generosity in the parable of the vineyard (are you envious because I am generous?)
• John 3:16, God's generosity in salvation (God so loved the world…)
• 2 Corinthians 8:9, generosity of Jesus (by Jesus' generous act we became rich) 

Generosity in God's people

• Exodus 35:5, a generous heart (take an offering and give to the Lord)
• Proverbs 11:24, give generously (some give freely and prosper, while others don't give and suffer want)
• Matthew 6:3-4, quiet generosity (give in secret, not seeking recognition)
• Luke 21:1-4, generosity of the poor (the poor widow gives of the little she has)
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, cheerful generosity (if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly)
• 1 Timothy 6:17-18, be generous (don't cling to wealth but to God) 

The Bible's particular interest in generosity to the poor

• Leviticus 19:9-10, generosity with your harvest (leave the edges of your fields for the poor)
• Proverbs 19:17, generosity to the poor (those who are kind to the poor lend to the Lord)
• Acts 20:35, value of generosity (it's more blessed to give than to receive) 

   

Sermon ideas about generosity

A sermon on generosity can point out that though we usually think of generosity as openhandedness with material goods (principally money), we can also be generous with our possessions, time, attention, encouragement, emotional availability, and more. Except for possessions, each of these things is nonmaterial. 

Indeed, some of the greatest forms of generosity in the universe are nonmaterial, such as God's grace for sinners manifested in the self-giving death of Jesus Christ. As the parable of the unmerciful servant shows, God's prime generosity to us in forgiveness is meant to spur our generosity to others. 

Generous people may offer money or possessions — or time, attention, or encouragement — but they may also be magnanimous in assessing other people's motives and actions by giving others the benefit of the doubt, or by putting the best face on their motives and acts. 

A sermon on generosity can also illuminate the Bible's particular interest in generosity to the poor, to those who cannot be generous in kind, and in return. See, for example, the texts above from Leviticus and Proverbs. 

But Luke 21 shows us a noble widow who is a sort of counterexample. She does not give a lot of money, but she does give self-sacrificially, displaying the heart of generosity. To give out of abundance is wonderful; to give out of want is heroic. Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey is memorable in part because it gives us vignettes of impoverished villagers who spot Central American kids riding the tops of boxcars toward the U.S. and then give them food they really cannot spare. They might have one tamale a day and give the kids half of it. 

In Matthew 6, Jesus recommends giving in secret, no doubt to counteract the kind of giving that is motivated by a hunger for publicity. But not all public giving is so motivated. Some is intended as a challenge and incentive to other givers: "I gave $$$. How about you?" Givers, too, may stir each other to good works. 

Sermons on generosity can also examine what generosity does for the giver. Proverbs 11 and 2 Corinthians 9 represent a strand of biblical teaching that recognizes that generosity also benefits the giver. Givers tend to thrive. They don't finally lose by giving. Indeed, scientific evidence supports the thesis that, in generosity, those who do good also do well.  

Does this corrupt their motives? Not necessarily. Healthy givers act out of gratitude for God's generosity to them and out of love of neighbor. They do not give to ensure their own thriving — but it is not wrong for them to notice that those who act generously do in fact tend to thrive. 

Excerpts about generosity 

Following are sample excerpts from Zeteosearch.org sermon resources about generosity: 

• "Christian generosity of spirit provides help to anyone tempted to despairing forms of envy. It reminds us that we bear the image of God, an inalienable gift the value of which is beyond measure." Article about Theology by Douglas V. Henry from Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University  

• "Generosity screams to all around you 'I know Who holds my life, so I give freely knowing He will care for me forever!' The righteous man cannot be moved by the shifting fortunes of a passing life. His hope is set on the solid foundation of a Good God Who loves more than we know how to love!" Generosity Produces Joy by Fr. Barnabas Powell from Faith Encouraged  

• "You know, Lord, how easy it is for me to receive your blessings, but then hold onto them. Help me to be a person who imitates your act of generous giving. As I have received financial blessings from you, may I share them freely with others." Discussion Questions, Scripture Meditation or Sermon by Mark Roberts from Theology of Work