One of the gifts that God has given us is the ability to give. The Bible teaches us that for every area of life to flourish, we need people who will generously share their resources, talents, and time with others. That’s true whether it’s a business, a church, or a family. Yet, many Christians have difficulty understanding why they should be generous givers.
The Bible mentions 12 types of givers. This article is a quick overview of the 12 types and what they teach us about giving.
12 Types of Givers in The Bible
What makes a giver? There are 12 different types of givers in the Bible. These men and women had one thing in common: love. They were not looking for recognition or praise but rather were so committed to sharing the Gospel that they risked their lives. Rather than give money to support themselves, they sacrificed their time and resources by giving away what they had.
1. Abraham – The Willing Giver
Abraham offered his only son (Genesis 22:1-19).
Abraham is the model of the Willing Giver. In this story, he is willing to sacrifice his only son. Abraham was willing to give up his son because God told him to do it. God also told Abraham that his son Isaac would be blessed and given as a gift to Esau (Genesis 27:26).
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son shows that he trusted God’s power and goodness. He knew God was able to do what He said He would do. Likewise, Abraham trusted that God would bring good out of evil by giving Esau a blessing instead of taking Isaac away from him forever.
The lesson for us today is that we should trust in God’s goodness, even when things don’t go our way, because we know He knows what is best for us.
Lessons of Abraham’s willingness
There are many reasons we should admire Abraham’s willingness, a few being his faith in God and his ability to trust what could not be seen, and others are listed below.
- Abraham was willing to offer up his only son, Isaac, and put everything on the line.
- Abraham had an outstanding faith in God and was able to trust in what he couldn’t see, for it is impossible to please God without faith.
- He was willing to leave his comfort zone by giving all he had.
2. The Widow – The Big Little Giver
The widow, who gave two mites which was all she had (Mark 12:42-44).
The Widow as described in Mark 12:42-44 was a woman who had been through enough to know how to use what little she had. She knew that two mites were worth more than all she had.
The widow is a picture of someone who has been through much. She is still standing, but her story does not end there. Her story continues as she has learned how to use what little she has in a positive way and stands here today as an example for us all.
Lessons from the Widow’s mite
- The Widow’s mite was an act of great sacrifice.
- The Widow’s mite was given in generosity.
- God values a generous heart above how much we give.
- Our giving is a reflection of our character.
3. Saul – The Stingy Giver
Saul wanted to offer the spoils of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 14:17-23).
A stingy giver is a person who is stingy in giving what they have. Giving is often said to be better than receiving, but this can be difficult for many people because they want to receive more than they are willing to give.
Saul, who wanted to offer the spoils of the Amalekites, was a young man who had been given significant responsibilities in his father’s kingdom. He had been trained to be a leader from birth, and now he faced an enemy who had attacked his own family and friends. So Saul promised God that he would give him all the wealth of battle if God gave him victory over the Amalekites.
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it can lead us into temptation. We may feel good about ourselves when in a position of power, but we do not realize how much our pride can cost us later when we need God’s grace most.
Lessons from Saul’s stingy giving
Saul’s stingy giving can teach us a few things.
- We should never give begrudgingly.
- What we think is right might not always be right in the sight of God.
- We must trust God to meet our needs when we obey Him.
4. David – The Sacrificial Giver
David refused to give that which cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).
David’s story is a lesson in the power of sacrifice. He was willing to give up his crown and the opportunity to be king if this would save his people. And in the end, he was willing to sacrifice himself.
It is one thing to be a sacrificial giver; it is quite another to be a sacrificial receiver. The giver may feel good about himself because he has done something good for someone else. But the receiver often feels bad because he has taken something good from someone else.
Lessons from David’s Sacrificial Giving
- David understood the necessity of being a cheerful giver.
- He acknowledged the blessing of being a giver.
- David saw his giving as an opportunity to please God.
5. Ananias and Sapphira – The Covetous Givers
Ananias and Sapphira held back part of the price of their possession pretending to give all (Acts 5:1-10).
For whatever reason, Ananias and Sapphira thought they could get away with this fraud by saying that they had given all when in fact they had not. They did not realize that God was watching them closely, waiting for them to confess their sin so he could take action against them (Ezekiel 33:7).
How would you act if someone asked you for money? What would you say? Would you lie about how much money you had or would you admit that you might need some extra funds at some point in time?
Lessons from Ananias and Sapphira Covetous Giving
- Covetousness is selfishness.
- Covetousness is a sign of discontentment.
- Covetousness is a kind of greed.
6. The Macedonians – The Consecrated Givers
The Macedonians, who first gave of themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
The Macedonians were an early Christian community that was founded by Paul and his co-worker Timothy.
In this letter, Paul calls them his dear friends and says they are now “consecrated” through Christ and given a new calling as members of the Body of Christ.
Paul tells them that they have been chosen to be special witnesses of God’s great love in Christ Jesus. He also tells them it is because they are consecrated givers that they will be able to bear fruit in their lives.
Lessons from The Macedonians – The Consecrated Givers
- The Macedonians gave through deep distress.
- The Macedonians gave by free will.
- The Macedonians gave beyond their ability.
7. Peter and John – The Life Givers
Peter and John, who had neither silver nor gold, but instead gave life to the lame man (Acts 3:1-9).
Peter and John are remembered for their boldness and courage to stand up for the truth. They knew that they were not in a position of power or privilege. They didn’t have money or possessions, but they did have something very much needed.
We all can give life, but most of us don’t use it because we don’t realize how important it is or how much it can change someone else’s life for the better.
We should never forget that Jesus came down from heaven to give His life as an example so that we would follow Him and not be afraid of death because He died as a sacrifice so that we could live eternally with Him in heaven.
Lessons from Peter and John – The Life Givers
- It is possible to give life even when you don’t have material wealth
- You can’t make everybody happy with your life-giving
- Life-givers are challenged by the authorities
There is great power in giving life and there are different challenges that come with it.
8. Zacchaeus – The Voluntary Giver
Zacchaeus gave his goods to feed the poor without being asked (Luke 19:1-9).
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man and he was not ashamed to admit it. He knew that God had blessed him with great wealth and he didn’t have any problem sharing it with others in need.
Zacchaeus’ story is a good reminder for us all. We can all benefit from this story as we continue on down our own paths and seek out ways to help others.
Lessons from Zacchaeus – The Voluntary Giving
The lesson from Zacchaeus is that you don’t have to be rich in order to give away something of your own. You don’t even have to do it out of your own free will; you can find ways to give because it’s right or because it’s expected of you.
9. The Reward Givers
Those who gave to be seen of men. They had their only reward here on earth (Matthew 6:2).
The reward givers are those who give to be seen by men. They had their only reward here on earth. They received their reward from the world, not God. The Pharisees were like this because they wanted to be praised by men, even though they were not pleasing God.
The disciples were different from the Pharisees because they gave God all their glory and praise. They did not want anyone else to receive credit for their excellent work. They were like the fish who hid underwater so that no one would see them except Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:37-43).
Lessons from The Reward Givers
- They wanted to be congratulated for their generosity and to make a good impression.
- They believed that the praise of men would improve their reputation.
- Their giving was confined to fellow church members and those who could render them some help in return.
10. The Samaritan – The Unpretentious Giver
The Samaritan who made no show of his giving (Luke 10:25-37).
The Samaritan did not seek recognition for his generosity; he just gave. Knowing he was generous, he was not worried about the people around him. He didn’t even have to say anything because his actions spoke louder than words. The fact that he gave without making a show of it showed how much he cared about others and their needs.
We need to learn from this story how to live our lives as givers–not by seeking credit for our generosity but by being generous in every area of life.
Lessons from The Samaritan Unpretentious Giving
- The answer of the Samaritan to the lawyer’s question.
- The parable ends with two turns of events, which display the love and mercy of God.
- This parable was told in reply to the question, “Who is my neighbour?
11. The Philippians – The Perfumed Givers
The Philippians, whose gifts were “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).
We are all given talents and abilities. Some are more naturally talented than others, but we must learn to develop and use our skills for the glory of God. For example, the Philippians were gifted in their ability to give financially, and Paul praised them for this ability. Not only did they have this ability, but they exercised it with joy and generosity.
The Philippians gave sacrificially out of their love for Christ and the church he started on earth through them. Their gift was not just money but also their time, energy, and service
Lessons from The Philippians – The Perfumed Givers
- The first thing we learn is that the Philippians were offering their gifts to God. They were not giving to Paul.
- Secondly, they were giving it willingly. Paul said this was a sweet smelling gift.
- Thirdly, they offered their gifts sacrificially. Paul uses the word “sacrifice” three times in this short chapter
12. God – The Greatest Giver
God gave His only begotten Son for you and me that we might be saved (John 3:16-17).
God loves you. He loves me. He loves your neighbor, the homeless man on the street corner, the addict who has ruined his life, and those of his family members. He loves them all.
God is not only our God but also our Father. We become His child forever when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As His child, He calls us His friend.
He doesn’t want us to call Him “Lord” out of fear of what might happen if we don’t obey Him; He wants us to call Him “Father” because He is our loving Father who always provides for us and cares for us in every aspect of our lives. This is true even when we rebel against Him and go against His will in any way possible.
Lessons from God, The Greatest Giver
- God gave without condition and reservation.
- God gave and forgives us daily.
- God gave and he asks us to give without grudgingly, but cheerfully and gladly.
Conclusion
The Bible shows the impact that giving can have on the broader community and how it can shape the lives of those involved in the act. Many of them also model some of the basic types that givers tend to exhibit when sharing their gifts—some more selfless than others.
Reference:
12 Powerful Types of Giving in the Bible
