this is super - distilled down; pretty much the high points only, and done with only a verse or two to make the point.
first, we should give because we are commanded to give
give to the poor/widows
1 tim 5:3
Honor widows who are widows indeed
1 john 3:17,18
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
give to ministers
1 cor 9:13,14
Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who
attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?
So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
gal 6:6
The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
1 tim 5:17
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
secondly, we should give because god rewards our giving
matt 6:2-4
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
matt 6:19-21
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves
break in and steal.
20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do
not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
thirdly, we should give because giving benefits us by including us in the ministry of others.
this is an interesting idea.
you are associating with a ministry when you give money.
that is good for you.
phil 4:15-17
You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left
Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;
for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account
finally, we should give because giving pleases god.
this is a constant context of the bible.
in the old testament, the concept of giving to god had legistlated minimums; your gifts to god were made directly (via the temple)
and to the poor.
in the new testament, the specific codes for giving are changed. but the context that all of our goods are gods remains.
phil 4:15-18
15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left
Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;
16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received
from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
acts 20:35
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"