A gift of the Spirit

The Gift of Giving

The gifts of Romans 12 · Romans 12:8

The gift of giving is a Spirit given generosity, a glad and openhanded readiness to share what one has for the work of God and the good of others. Paul names it in Romans 12 and tells the giver to do it with simplicity. It builds up the body, for the common good, and reflects the God who gave His own Son.

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.Romans 12:8 (KJV)

What the gift is

Paul writes, he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity. Every Christian is called to generosity, but Scripture speaks here of a particular gift, a Spirit given grace of giving that goes beyond the ordinary, marked by joy, freedom, and singleness of heart. The word translated simplicity means without mixed motives, openhanded and sincere, giving purely for the sake of others and of God, not for thanks or reputation.

This is generosity shaped by the gospel. Those with this gift give cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver, and they give trusting that God is able to make all grace abound toward them. They have grasped that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and their open hands become a channel of God's provision to His people and His work.

How it appears in the New Testament

The early church was radiant with this gift. In Jerusalem the believers shared so freely that no one lacked, as many as had lands or houses sold them and laid the price at the apostles' feet. Barnabas sold a field and gave the money to the church. The churches of Macedonia, though in deep poverty, gave to the relief of the saints beyond their power, and Paul held them up as a marvel of grace, for they first gave their own selves to the Lord.

Jesus praised the poor widow who put in two mites, saying she had given more than all the rich, for she gave out of her want, all that she had. And Paul teaches the churches to lay by in store as God has prospered them, to give as they purpose in their hearts, not grudgingly or of necessity. The gift of giving turns the church into a river of God's provision for the poor, the persecuted, and the spread of the gospel.

How it builds up the body of Christ

Generosity meets real needs and funds real ministry, and it does more: it binds the body together in love, as those with much share with those in want, that there may be equality. When a believer with this gift gives freely, the poor are fed, the gospel goes out, workers are supported, and the whole church learns to trust the God who provides.

Giving also fights the great rival of God in the human heart, for no one can serve both God and money. The generous giver testifies that their treasure is in heaven, that they own their possessions rather than being owned by them. In this way the gift preaches the gospel of a giving God and frees the whole church to hold the world's goods with open hands.

How to recognize and use it

Those with this gift feel joy, not loss, in giving, and often look for ways to meet needs quietly and generously. If that is you, give with simplicity and cheerfulness, as unto the Lord. Give in secret where you can, so your left hand does not know what your right hand does, and let your giving be an act of worship rather than a bid for honor. Trust God to supply your own needs as you supply others'.

And whatever your gift, remember that all of us are called to generosity, for we follow the God who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, and the Lord Jesus who, though He was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. Every gift we give is an echo of the great Gift we have received.

How this gift points to Christ

The generous heart is an echo of the most generous act in all the world, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and the Lord Jesus, though He was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. Every gift a believer gives is a small return of that unspeakable Gift. So this gift preaches the gospel of a giving God, and it frees the giver to hold the world's goods with open hands, treasuring Christ above all. The one who has received the Gift of gifts gives gladly, knowing that all they have was first given them, and that in blessing others they are made most like their Lord.

The more excellent way

Whatever place the gift of Giving holds, Paul sets one thing above every gift. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, he says, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal; and though I have all knowledge, and all faith, and have not charity, I am nothing. The gifts will one day pass away, but now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; and the greatest of these is charity.

So this gift, like all the rest, is given by one Spirit for the common good, to build up the one body of Christ, and it is nothing at all apart from love. The gifts are not for our standing but for our serving, and they all belong to Him whose body the church is. Use whatever you have been given to love one another, and to point every eye to Jesus, from whom every good gift comes and to whom every gift returns its praise.

The Giver calls you

Every gift of the Spirit comes from the risen Christ and points back to Him. The same Lord who pours out gifts on His church calls you by name to know Him, to be filled with His Spirit, and to take your place in His body. Read the Word, pray, and gather with the family of God on The Living Bread. Free, with no ads, for all people.

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Questions people ask

What is the spiritual gift of giving?

It is a Spirit given generosity, a glad and openhanded readiness to share what one has for the work of God and the good of others. Paul names it in Romans 12:8 and tells the giver to do it with simplicity, meaning sincerely and without mixed motives.

Isn't every Christian supposed to give?

Yes. All believers are called to generosity. But Scripture also speaks of giving as a particular gift, a grace that goes beyond the ordinary in joy, freedom, and openhandedness, given by the Spirit for the good of the whole body.

Does the gift of giving mean being wealthy?

No. Jesus praised a poor widow who gave two mites as having given more than the rich, and Paul marveled at the deeply poor Macedonians who gave beyond their power. The gift is about the heart's cheerful generosity, not the size of the gift.