Living in the Word – Prayer Devotional for Giving
We can give our time, energy, effort, strength, love, items, finances, and ourselves. But with what kind of heart determines the fruit of our giving.
We can be begrudged and willful and give merely because it is expected or required of us. And our fruit will be bitter or rotten.
We can be boastful and braggadocios about our giving to gain accolades and status. But our fruit will not be sweet or hearty.
Only when we give with a heart of love and compassion for the other person and in reverence towards God who tells us to give freely, will our fruit be ripe and plentiful. Then, not only will others benefit but so will you and the kingdom of God.
Take the time to read the below bible scriptures and truly focus on what they are saying to you. Some passages may touch you differently than others. Writing down the verses in your own hand is helpful for some individuals. Possibly looking up the verses in your own bible may be beneficial. I use a NIV bible translation. Or reading them over and over to commit to memory. Whatever method works best for you to experience God’s words and feel closer to Him.
2 Corinthians 8:11-12
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Proverbs 11:24-25
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said; ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
I sincerely pray that these bible verses meet you where you are today and help you to give to others willingly and in love. A simple act can provide tremendous support for someone else.
God bless,
Melissa
Kristen
I love this, Melissa! And I especially love all the bible verses you’ve included. I think everyone can find inspiration here. Blessings!
melissa
Thank you! God’s words are so rich and can have such healing! So often we read our bibles or verses without really breaking them down and seeing how relevant they are to our life, in this exact moment! Thank you for reading and commenting! God Bless and enjoy your weekend!
Alice Mills
How and why we give certainly reveals our motivation. I once went to a church where you had to announce what you were giving. It was awful!
melissa
We went to a Catholic church prior to my parents divorcing when I was 13. Every year the church would publish the amount each family tithed. It was not good.
Heather Hart
God loves a cheerful giver, but more than that, when we give out of the overflow of our hearts it is such a blessing to both us and those we give to.
melissa
This is so true! It is such a beautiful result for everyone involved! Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!
Aryn The Libraryan
The heart, the motivation is what concerns God most. (the widow’s mite, the rich fool) thanks for this!
melissa
It is all about us allowing God to be our heart! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! God bless!
Julie
Great verses to remind my heart why we give and they encourage me to step it up!
Wonderful post!
melissa
I think there is always more we can be doing for others around us! Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!
Susan Evans
So many times I’ve given everything I had in my wallet to a person in need, and within the next day or two, I had the money back in my hand, sometimes double! God is amazing and owns all of your money.
melissa
I’ve experienced the same types of situations as well. Feeling lead to give extra at church, a charity, or to a person in need and God provides back to me in monetary ways as well as flourishing spiritual growth! Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!