SON SON
The Bible has a lot to say about charitable giving. In fact, the concept of giving to those in need is a recurring theme throughout the Old and New Testaments. Here are some key verses that highlight the importance of giving and generosity:
1. Deuteronomy 15:10 – ” Give generously to them and do so without a grudge; then because they have no means to repay you, the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
2. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 – “It is not that there is relief for others and poverty for you, but it is a matter of equality—at the present time your abundance being a supply for their want, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
3. Proverbs 22:9 – “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
4. Psalm 37:21 – “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is generous and gives.”
5. Matthew 25:31-46 – “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you as sick or in prison and come to you?’
The king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not help you?’
Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
God’s word teaches us that generosity is not just a recommendation, but a commandment. We are called to give generously, not out of obligation, but out of a heart of love for others. When we give to those in need, we are not only blessing them financially, but we are also storing up treasure in heaven. As believers, we are called to be good stewards of our resources and to use them to further God’s kingdom. By giving to others, we are not only demonstrating our faith in action, but also contributing to the greater good of humanity.