Give, Save, Live: A Biblical Guide to Money

What comes to mind when you hear the word “generosity”? 

Generosity is one of those things we all value, yet how it works out in our lives can be a different story. But did you know that Australians are becoming less charitable as the share of people making donations has fallen to its lowest level since the 1970s.

God designed us to be conduits through which His generosity flows. Paul instructs us to live generous lives so that we “may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6.17-19). The Bible teaches us that the life we truly desire comes when we give, rather than when we consume or hoard. Experience seems to confirm this truth - have you ever met an unhappy generous person? When we see generosity in action - whether it’s a neighbour who gives their time, a friend who shares what they have, or a stranger who helps without expecting anything back - we can’t help but admire it. I love being around generous people. There is a sense of life, joy, and freedom in the atmosphere whenever they turn up. I want to be a generous person. Indeed, the God we know in Jesus is a God overflowing with love and generosity. 

“We love because he first loved us”

We are to be generous because God has been generous to us. The apostle John encourages us that “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4.19). Isaac Watts put it this way in his famous hymn, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all”. 

“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all”.

When we recognise God’s grace in our lives, we can confidently say, “I have everything; therefore, I am free to give everything”.

However, a culture of generosity isn’t simply about money. A culture of generosity is about helping one another follow Jesus by using the time, space, gifts, energy, compassion, and yes, the money that God has given us. John Wesley said: 

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can in all the ways you can, in all the places you can at all the times you can, to all the people you can as long as ever you can. 

A culture of generosity benefits everyone, especially the giver. Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20.35).  A culture of generosity defeats selfishness. A culture of generosity encourages love and kindness. A culture of generosity builds emotional and mental health. And most importantly, a culture of generosity is built on the words and teachings of our Lord Jesus - to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

How can I be both wise and generous with my money? 

We are to use the money God has given us to give, save and live.

LIVE

Much of the money God has given us will go toward our living expenses - providing for our basic needs and the needs of our families. Paul teaches that “anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5.8). 

He also teaches us that “everything God created is good” (1 Timothy 4.4), and God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6.17). This means we can give thanks to God and use the money God has given us as we pay the rent, buy the school uniforms, and pick up the groceries. It’s also worth remembering that there is a place for celebration and rest in the Christian life (Psalm 104.14-15; Ecclesiastes 3.1-8; John 2.1- 11; Luke 15.22-24). This means we can give thanks to God and enjoy using money even as we throw parties and go on holidays! 

Of course as we do these things we need to guard against greed (Luke 12.15), which is idolatry (Colossians 3.5). Like all of God’s good gifts, money - and the things we buy with it - can easily enslave us (Matthew 6.24).

SAVE

Some of the money God gives to us we will save. The book of Proverbs praises the wisdom of the ant who saves food for the future (Proverbs 6.6-11). Joseph is another model of wisdom when he stores up grain in a time of famine (Genesis 45.5-11). 

We don’t save because we fear the future (Matthew 6.25-33), nor do we save in order to store up treasures for ourselves (Matthew 6.19). If we save, it should be so we don’t become a burden to others (2 Thessalonians 3.6-13), and so we can have something to share with others (Acts 20.34-35; Ephesians 4.28), this could include passing on an inheritance to our children (Proverbs 13.22). 

GIVE

God provides us with money so that we can live and save. But above all, God calls us to give and share with others. In particular, it is a biblical principle that we should work out our giving first, and then live and save from what is left (Genesis 4.3-5; Exodus 23.19; Proverbs 3.9; 1 Corinthians 16.2).

There are at least three reasons we should be generous: 

1. To reflect God’s likeness: When we give - and especially when we give to those who don’t deserve it - we become like our heavenly Father, who gave his own Son for his enemies (Romans 5.8-11).

2. To store up treasure in heaven: Jesus urges us to “store up treasure in heaven” (Matthew 6.20) and teaches that those who give away possessions in his name to provide for others will have treasure in heaven (Mark 10.21). Paul encourages us that “whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9.6).

3. To guard against idolatry: It is hard to worship money if you are always giving it away. For this reason, Paul commanded those who are rich in this present life “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” (1 Timothy 6.18-19).

How much should I give?

In the Old Testament, God’s people were encouraged to give a tithe (10% of their income) back to him. Leviticus 27.30 says “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord”. In addition, there was a tri-annual tithe to support the poor. On top of both of these tithes, many Israelites voluntarily gave free will offerings to God as an expression of their faith in him and thankfulness for all that he had done for them. 

In the New Testament sacrificial generosity replaces the Old Testament principle of tithing -

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8.9).

So now, rather than being commanded to give 10%, Christians are called to generosity in response to God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ. 

The New Testament never names a specific amount that we should give. It simply tells us to be generous in proportion to our income (1 Cor 16.1-2). This means that a widow’s mite can be more generous than a rich person’s offering, even if the widow’s mite is a smaller amount (Luke 21.1-4).

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9.6-7 reminds us that our giving is ultimately a matter for prayerful consideration before God. At the end of the day, our finances are just one of the many areas that we must bring before God in prayer as we consider how to worship him as “living sacrifices”. 

Nevertheless, we must be careful not to fool ourselves. Australians are typically bad givers. Recent figures published in the SMH indicate that on average Australians give 0.4% of their taxable income to not-for-profits. Instead, Aussies seem to be obsessed with building wealth and securing their next piece of real estate.  As believers, we must take seriously what Jesus says in Matthew 6.19-21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.