Introduction: Is giving to others a matter of simple math? I give you five dollars and therefore I am five dollars poorer and you are five dollars richer. 
The Bible teaches that giving makes us richer, not poorer. And you hear that message all the time from ministries who want your money. What you do not hear all the time is that giving to someone or some organization might not make them any richer. Could the gift be a total loss to them? That total loss principle is also in the Bible. Let’s once again plunge into our study of the Bible to learn more!
I. Jesus and Stewardship
A. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul gives the simple math approach to Jesus’ gift to us. He became poorer and we became richer. Is this an incomplete description of Jesus’ stewardship?
B. Read Philippians 2:7-10. What does this tell us was the result of Jesus emptying Himself? (God highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him “the name that is above every name.” Every knee will bow before Him.)
C. Read Revelation 5:11-13. Would you like power and wealth? (This text says that Jesus received power and wealth because of His sacrifice.)
1. Jesus was fully God before He humbled Himself and became human. How can God be given something He did not already possess? (If you review Genesis, from the fall of humans to the flood, you can see that God was in a battle against Satan. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection gave Him the victory and universal power, wealth, and glory.)
D. Read Malachi 3:10-12. What is the promise that God made to the Israelites? (Returning tithe gives you supernatural (“windows of heaven”) blessings. Not only will you have no more need, but God will actively bless your work.)
E. Read Proverbs 21:20 and Proverbs 19:19. What benefit does Jesus’ sacrifice have for those who reject His grace? (Just because you give someone money does not mean that it will benefit them. For some it is like those who cannot control their temper. If you rescue them from the consequences of their bad behavior, you will have to do it again.)
F. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1. What does it mean to receive God’s grace “in vain?” (Some will not accept it and thus the gift was given with no good result.)
II. Considered Benevolence
A. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. Should our contributions to charity be thoughtful? (Paul says that giving is a decision.)
1. When Paul writes that giving should not be reluctant or compelled, how does that help you understand the element of thoughtfulness? (Our heart decision should not be made under duress. We should want to give. We should give cheerfully.)
2. Let’s think again about giving that enables destructive behavior or supports an ineffective cause. Is indiscriminate giving consistent with Paul’s instruction that giving should be thoughtful, voluntary, and joyful?
B. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6. Is this part of what we should consider when we give? (Stating this principle, just like the statement in Malachi 3, shows that considering our own resources is supposed to be part of our decision to give. If you want to have more, you need to give more.)
1. My wife spends much more time than I do considering how to give and to whom we should give. I recall an exciting period of time when she decided to give an unexpected amount to a person. Soon thereafter we received unexpected money in about the same amount. She then made another new gift, and once again we received some unexpected new money. I don’t remember how long this went on, but it brought joy as we watched God work.
2. Are blessings only money? Jesus’ disciples seemed to be poor during their mission work. (Although Malachi specifically mentions blessings regarding work, I believe that blessings is much broader than money. For some, a lot of money is not a blessing.)
C. Read 2 Corinthians 9:11. So far, my assumption has been that we are discussing giving money. Is that the only kind of gift discussed by Paul? (Paul refers to being “enriched in every way,” and being “generous in every way.”)
1. What are the other ways to give gifts and be generous? (Giving your time.)
2. Is time like money in the sense that if you give it to others, you will have more of it? (Unlike money, we all have a limited amount of time. But I think the multiplier principle still applies. Years ago, I purchased a used car and could not wait to change its oil. The next day church members wanted me to use my carpentry skills to help in the morning to build our new church. I decided to go. When I returned home and got under the car, the drain plug for the oil pan was like nothing I had ever seen. I got up and stood there wondering where I could buy a tool for that. My gaze wandered to my carpenter’s tool belt and the handle of my nail puller. The shaft perfectly fit the drain plug and I was able to change the oil. Had I not worked on the church, I’m sure I would have spent hours going from store to store trying to find the right tool.)
D. Read 2 Corinthians 9:12-13. What other positive thing happens as a result of your generosity to others? (Those you help will give glory to God for your gift.)
1. When I advise young people on a future career, I suggest they select a profession where they are helping other people. Is this good advice, or would you recommend a profession where you can make a lot of money? (Helping others can provide a continuing sense of purpose and joy. Money alone is a poor foundation for choosing a life’s work.)
E. Consider another aspect of 2 Corinthians 9:13. Should it be a concern of ours whether those receiving our help give glory to God? (One of my major charities helps others and attributes that help to the work of Jesus. Another charity, which I do not support, helps others but says nothing about being motivated by religion.)
F. Read 1 Timothy 5:9. What does Paul mean when he writes about a widow being “enrolled?” (The prior verses refer to helping widows. This is a reference to being on the list of widows helped by the church.)
G. Read 1 Timothy 5:9-13. Is need the only consideration in deciding which widows receive ongoing church support? (No. Those who are doing good works are to be helped, and those widows who are not will not be helped.)
1. Should the rule which Paul gave to the early church apply to your giving? Should it be part of your giving that comes from decisions of your heart?
H. Read Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19-21 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10. What does this teach us about helping the poor? (The Biblical approach requires that the poor be willing to work. If they will not work, they will not share in the harvest.)
1. Should this be part of our decision on who to help? (We should also consider whether the poor person is unable to work.)
2. Do these texts teach us something about making a careful decision about helping the needy?
3. Is giving money to a needy person the best decision? (The World Bank reports that from 1990-2025 the number of people in extreme poverty fell from about 2.3 billion to 831 million. This improvement did not result from the transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor, but rather it was driven by strong economic growth that resulted from allowing private enterprise, trade and competition.)
I. Friend, will you consider your help to those in need? Being generous blesses you. Being wise about your gift blesses the poor person. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to guide your gifts?
III. Next week: Dealing With False Teachers.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http:
