JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
GALATIANS 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
EPHESIANS 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Giving is the only way to show love. Without giving, there is no proof that love exists. Love can only be shown by giving. The act of giving is how one shows they are in love.
Your love is therefore measured by the amount you provide. You can express your love by giving more of yourself, your time, your care, your passion, your patience, and your treasure. Jesus intended this when he said in John 15:13.
JOHN 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Why did Jesus claim that giving your life is the height of love? B ecause you are at your limit. It is complete dedication!
Hence, you can substitute "giving" for "love" anywhere it appears in a phrase and convey roughly the same concept.
JOHN 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We may observe Jesus' prediction that His disciples will be noted for their generosity by realizing that love always leads to giving. We want to be known for our generosity! Jesus said that people will recognize His genuine followers by their generosity. (Not even our accurate theology, preaching, or battling.)
We can see that this is truly what took place during the early years of the church.
ACTS 4:34-35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Don't hold the belief that your donations should exclusively benefit pastors and churches. Giving to any Christian is equivalent to giving to Jesus, according to what Jesus stated clearly.
MATTHEW 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
But, God has not commanded us to provide to others in order for us to become impoverished as well. NO! We will be able to give more in the future since God has committed to multiply what we give.
LUKE 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
As a result, we can provide to others with belief, knowing that God will keep providing all of our needs, because of the pledges He has made.
EPHESIANS 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
(This verse provides us an insight of how important giving was to the early Christians' way of thinking.)
JOHN 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
It is mandatory to love (give) if you want to follow Jesus.
SAY THIS: I will become a giver as a follower of Jesus.
