Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to give the first part of our
resources to God as an expression of honor and gratitude.
Proverbs 3:9–10
“Honor the Lord with thy substance,
and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine”
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Malachi 3:8-12 - The Message
“Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God?
But you rob me day after day.
“You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’
“The tithe and the offerin - that’s how!
And now you’re under a curse
- the whole lot of you - because you’re robbing me.
Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will
be ample provisions in my Temple.
Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.
Luke 21:1-4 ESV
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.”
Luke 6:38 (English Standard Version)
Give, and it will be given to you.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be
measured back to you.”
Acts 20:35 ESV
In all things I have shown you that by working hard
in this way we must help the weak
and remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.