What Is a Bible Verse About Giving to Others?
A Bible verse about giving to others, such as Acts 20:35, calls believers to be generous and compassionate. In his final instructions to the Ephesian church, Paul told them, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’”. The holiday season is a time of sharing and caring—a moment to reflect on blessings and uplift those around us. At GFA World, its commitment to giving transcends the holiday as GFA World pastors and missionaries bring gifts of hope to those burdened by poverty in Africa and Asia year-round. Its Christmas gift program provides meaningful gifts that uplift spirits and transform lives, demonstrating God’s love and care for everyone.[1]
What the Bible Says About Giving
Scripture about giving to others shows that generosity is more than a duty — it mirrors God’s own character. From the Old Testament law to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, the Bible calls God’s people to give freely and with joy. These Proverbs 21 principles remind believers that caring for the poor is part of faithful living. A single verse about giving to others can change how a person views their possessions and their purpose in life.
Writing to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul taught that each person should give “not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV). Paul’s words capture the heart of biblical giving — there is to be no compulsion for God loves a heart that chooses freely. This Scripture on giving to others shifts the focus from duty to delight. Giving is meant to flow from a willing heart, not from guilt or pressure. The generous person will prosper, as Proverbs 11:25 says: “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” True giving blesses both the receiver and the giver.
GFA World’s Christmas Gift Program
GFA World typically helps more than 150,000 families with the means to break poverty through gifts funded by generous donors. Its goal this year is to reach more families.[2] National missionaries and local pastors in Africa and Asia find families in greatest need. They personally deliver these gifts within their own communities, bringing hope to places where poverty has long held firm. Behind every gift is a story of hope breaking through hardship. When donors give, they take part in something far bigger than a single transaction. They join a movement of kindness that reaches across continents into the most remote villages. The joy of giving multiplies as each gift creates ripples through families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.
Imagine the impact of a gift like a goat or a sewing machine—items that create pathways to a brighter future. For families who have little, these gifts can mean the difference between despair and hope, bare survival and thriving.
Generous donors make this vital work possible. Each contribution helps the ministry distribute gifts that resonate deeply with those who receive them. Every donation has the potential to transform lives, and many hope supporters will feel inspired to give through its Christmas Gift Catalog, knowing that they are sowing seeds of hope in a world that desperately needs it. Giving is not about the size of the gift but the heart behind it. Jesus showed this truth when He watched a poor widow has put two small coins into the temple treasury. Her gift, though tiny, was greater than all the rest because she gave out of her poverty (Mark 12:43–44 NKJV). GFA World honors this principle, valuing every donation as a sacred act of faith, no matter the amount.
Before GFA World workers distribute gifts, they assess the needs within their communities, ensuring that every gift is relevant and impactful. Please pray that its teams have the wisdom to discern who is most in need and the organization to execute successful distribution.
Every gift is selected with care, focusing on quality and lasting impact. Gifts like farm animals or sewing machines can empower families with enough income to provide education for their children, breaking the cycle of poverty for generations. Pray that these gifts will create immediate relief and enduring blessings and joy.
Scripture also teaches believers how to care for one another in practical, everyday ways. When a brother or sister is in need, faith calls for action and not just words. Romans 12:13 says believers should be “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” This verse is a direct call. It asks believers to open both homes and hearts to those who lack basic necessities.
Most importantly, through GFA World, recipients have the opportunity to learn about God’s immense love for them. The organization’s workers strive to convey to those they minister that they are cherished and not alone in their struggles. Supporters are invited to pray that those receiving gifts feel this love and are spiritually transformed through the knowledge of God’s compassion and care. National missionaries who share the same language and culture walk alongside these families, building relationships of trust that open doors for the gospel in ways that outsiders cannot replicate. This is the beauty of the Christmas gift program — it meets physical needs while opening hearts to the gospel, and it does so through local believers who are already trusted members of their communities.
Jesus taught His followers to store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19–20 NKJV). Giving to GFA World’s Christmas gift program is an investment in things that last forever. Every goat, sewing machine, or blanket becomes a vessel of God’s love. These gifts carry the hope of Christ to families who have never heard His name. The purpose of Christian giving goes beyond meeting material needs. It points people toward eternal hope. John 3:17 reminds believers that God sent His Son not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Every gift delivered through GFA World carries this message. God sees, God cares, and God has made a way for all who believe.
Long before the New Testament church took shape, God wove giving into the very fabric of His law. Leviticus 27:30 established the tithe — a portion set apart as holy to the Lord, not as a tax but as an act of worship that acknowledged every good thing came from His hand. Deuteronomy 15 commanded open-handed generosity: “You shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother” (NKJV).[3] Together, these Bible verse about giving to others principles form a complete picture: giving is not a transaction but an act of worship, flowing from a heart that trusts God’s provision and refuses to turn away from those in need.
The same principle that guided ancient Israel echoes through the New Testament call to be a loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Believers are also called to sell your possessions when the Spirit leads, holding material things loosely and giving freely.
When supporters give through GFA World, they obey a command that spans both testaments. The act of giving connects them to the synagogues and on the streets where the early church shared everything they had. It also connects them to the simple faith of a widow who gave all she owned. This is the heart of genuine Scripture about giving to others — not a transaction, but a sign of trust in God’s faithful provision.
GFA World encourages supporters to join in making a lasting impact this Christmas. Donations help change lives, offering hope and dignity to needy families. Many come together this holiday season to share not just gifts but the profound love of Christ. Will you answer the call to make a difference? Your support can bring hope and joy to those who need it most.
For those who want to go beyond a one-time gift, sponsoring a national missionary provides ongoing support. It sustains a local worker who already knows the language and culture of the community they serve. Through monthly partnership, sponsors help sustain the very people who deliver gifts, share the gospel, and disciple new believers in some of the world’s most difficult places.
Every gift given and every missionary supported becomes part of a larger story — one where hope reaches places the world has overlooked, and where the simplest act of generosity echoes into eternity.
Give a gift from the Christmas Gift Catalog
Study more Bible verses about giving to others!
[1] “Monthly Prayer Focus.” GFA World. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.gfa.org/pray/gifts.
[2] “GFA World’s Christmas Gift Catalog.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/gift/.
[3] Deuteronomy 15:7, NKJV.