Charity is a major theme throughout the Bible. God calls us to be generous and compassionate, especially towards those in need. Here are some key Bible verses about charity:
Old Testament Verses on Charity
In the Old Testament, God gave laws and instructions to the Israelites about caring for the poor and needy among them:
- “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
- “If there is among you a poor man of your brothers within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)
- “Give generously to [the poor] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)
- “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily.” (Isaiah 58:6-8)
- “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)
These verses establish charity and care for the poor as a duty and act of obedience for God’s people. God promises to bless those who give generously to the needy.
New Testament Verses on Charity
In the New Testament, Jesus emphasized compassion and care for the needy. His followers are called to imitate His generosity.
- “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” (Luke 12:33)
- “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)
- “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 will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 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, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40)
- “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.” (Luke 6:30)
Jesus teaches that charity should be offered freely, even to those who cannot repay. He identifies personally with the poor and needy, promising eternal rewards for those who care for them.
Teachings on Charity in the Epistles
The New Testament letters expand upon Jesus’ teachings with instruction and encouragement about giving:
- “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:13)
- “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:13 NIV)
- “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” (Acts 4:34-35)
- “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
- “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27)
- “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
The early church saw radical generosity and communal sharing as a natural outflow of the gospel. Giving to those in need demonstrates Christ’s love.
Principles for Giving
While God calls all Christians to show charity, the Bible also teaches principles for how giving should be done:
- Give willingly and cheerfully, not under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- Give quietly and discreetly (Matthew 6:1-4)
- Give in proportion to what you have (Luke 21:1-4, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
- See giving as ministry to God (Matthew 25:31-46)
- Trust God to provide for your needs when you give generously (2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19)
The motivation for giving should be love, a desire to honor God, and compassion for those in need. Giving should flow out of a generous spirit, not duty or recognition.
Biblical Promises About Charity
God makes amazing promises to those who give cheerfully and sacrificially. Here are some blessings for the generous:
- Financial provision and security (Proverbs 28:27, Philippians 4:19)
- Eternal treasure and reward (Matthew 6:4, Matthew 19:21, 1 Timothy 6:18-19)
- Joy (Acts 20:35)
- Seeing prayers answered (Psalm 112:9, Proverbs 21:13)
- God’s favor and blessing in this life (Deuteronomy 15:10, Proverbs 22:9)
- Needs met (Proverbs 11:24-25, Luke 6:38)
- Righteousness before God (Acts 10:2-4, Hebrews 13:16)
We can trust God to care for us when we give freely to meet the needs of others. He sees our hearts and will reward selfless charity.
Examples of Generous Givers in the Bible
Many righteous people in Scripture modeled generous giving and care for the poor:
- Tabitha – She was “full of good works and acts of charity.” She cared for widows by making robes and clothing for them (Acts 9:36-39).
- Cornelius – A gentile who “gave alms generously to the [Jewish] people” and was called “a devout man who feared God” (Acts 10:2, 4).
- Dorcas – She was a disciple “who was full of good works and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36).
- Job – A man who rescued the poor and needy: “I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him” (Job 29:12).
- Zacchaeus – After meeting Jesus, this tax collector vowed, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor” (Luke 19:8).
When we give as these examples did, with open hands and hearts of compassion, we reflect God’s generosity. We store up eternal rewards as we meet needs in Jesus’ name.
How Should Christians View Wealth and Possessions?
The Bible cautions against love of money and materialism. We are called to pursue generosity over accumulating wealth for ourselves. Here is the biblical perspective on money and possessions:
- Wealth can tempt us away from trust in God (Proverbs 30:8-9).
- God owns everything; we are stewards (Psalm 24:1, Haggai 2:8).
- We should be content with simple provisions (1 Timothy 6:8).
- God cares how we gain and use wealth (Proverbs 13:11, Jeremiah 17:11).
- It is very hard for the rich to enter God’s kingdom without radical charity (Matthew 19:23-24).
- We cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).
- Using wealth to help others should be a priority (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
The Bible warns strongly against greed, materialism, and stinginess. We honor God when we view money as a resource to generously meet needs.
Bible Characters Who Struggled with Greed
Many people in the Bible fell into the trap of greed and hoarding wealth. Their examples serve as a warning:
- The Rich Fool – He hoarded his surplus wealth only to die suddenly without enjoying it, called a “fool” by Jesus (Luke 12:16-21).
- Rich Young Ruler – Chose his wealth over following Jesus wholeheartedly (Matthew 19:16-22).
- Ananias and Sapphira – Lied about the sale price of property in order to secretly keep back some proceeds; judged by God (Acts 5:1-11).
- Rich Man and Lazarus – The nameless rich man lived in extreme luxury while neglecting poor Lazarus who begged outside his gate (Luke 16:19-31).
Jesus sternly warned against the love of money and neglect of the poor. We must guard our hearts against greed and pursue radical generosity.
Charity in the Early Church
The Book of Acts paints a beautiful picture of care for the needy in the earliest Christian communities:
- Shared meals together and “had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).
- “There was not a needy person among them” due to voluntary generosity (Acts 4:34).
- Gave proceeds from property sales to meet needs within the church (Acts 4:34-35).
- Received offerings to provide famine relief for Judean believers (Acts 11:27-30).
- Took up collections to support ministry and persecuted believers (Romans 15:25-27).
The early church saw radical giving and mutual care as the natural result of being united in Christ. There was great joy in freely providing for one another.
How Should the Church Promote and Model Charity Today?
Churches can follow the early church’s example of radical generosity when they:
- Emphasize compassion ministries along with evangelism.
- Partner with civic groups and nonprofits to meet community needs.
- Organize efforts where church members give time and resources to help the poor locally and globally.
- Encourage sacrificial giving to support ministry needs.
- Model financial integrity and accountability with donations and charity outreach.
- Avoid formulaic programs, instead seeking creative ways to express Christ’s love.
- Make care for the marginalized and needy a core value, not just an occasional project.
Churches have great potential to reveal God’s generous heart when they make hands-on charity central to their identity and purpose.
Final Thoughts
Throughout Scripture, God shows deep concern and compassion for the poor, neglected, and marginalized. His people are called to reflect His heart by giving freely and generously in the name of Christ. Charity should flow from grace, never compulsion or duty. While God promises to reward and care for those who give cheerfully, our motivation should simply be to glorify God and share His love with others.