Giving
The Giver
Channels resources to fund the work of God.
Arms of the body
A strong support to those on the front lines — gives time, talent, energy, and means to advance the gospel.
μεταδίδωμι
…the one who contributes, in generosity…
From metá ('with, sharing') and dídōmi ('to give'). To share over — to give a portion of what is yours so another may have.
The giver sees resources as seed, not security. They love to fuel kingdom work with material, financial, and relational means.
Definition
Shares material assistance and support.
Need it meets
Material
What it does
Keeps us sharing and provides for specific needs.
In the Bible
Where this gift shows up in Scripture
Dorcas
Acts 9:36–42
Cornelius
Acts 10:1–4
Epaphras
Colossians 4:12–13
Paul
Acts 20:33–35
Lydia
Acts 16:14–15
Zacchaeus
Luke 19:1–10
Solomon
1 Kings 3:5–14
Typical strengths
When this gift is operating in health
- 01
Generous, often anonymously and without strings attached.
- 02
Senses where resources are needed and moves quickly to supply them.
- 03
Stewards money, time, and possessions as kingdom seed.
Shadow side
Where this gift can drift
- 01
Can use generosity to control outcomes or people.
- 02
Unpredictable patterns of giving can upset family or close relationships.
- 03
Tendency toward materialism or pride in what they provide.
How to mature this gift
Practices that grow you up in it
- 01
Give in secret as your normal practice.
- 02
Let the Spirit, not strategy, lead your most significant gifts.
- 03
Cultivate gratitude and contentment alongside generosity.
Where to deploy it
Contexts where this gift thrives
- 01
Funding ministries, missionaries, and church plants.
- 02
Benevolence, mercy funds, and community development.
- 03
Hospitality, business as mission, and kingdom investing.
Questions
Common questions about the gift of giving
What is the spiritual gift of giving?
Shares material assistance and support. Channels resources to fund the work of God. In the Romans 12 framework this gift is often called "The Giver," described as the arms of the body: A strong support to those on the front lines — gives time, talent, energy, and means to advance the gospel.
Where is giving listed in Romans 12?
It appears in Paul's list of gifts in Romans 12:6–8 — "the one who contributes, in generosity". The underlying Greek word is μεταδίδωμι (Metadidōmi, Strong's 3330).
What does the Greek word Metadidōmi mean?
From metá ('with, sharing') and dídōmi ('to give'). To share over — to give a portion of what is yours so another may have. The giver sees resources as seed, not security. They love to fuel kingdom work with material, financial, and relational means.
Who in the Bible had the gift of giving?
Scripture shows this gift at work in people such as Dorcas (Acts 9:36–42), Cornelius (Acts 10:1–4), Epaphras (Colossians 4:12–13), Paul (Acts 20:33–35). Keeps us sharing and provides for specific needs.
How do I know if giving is my gift?
People with this gift usually recognize themselves in patterns like: generous, often anonymously and without strings attached; senses where resources are needed and moves quickly to supply them; stewards money, time, and possessions as kingdom seed. It primarily meets material needs. The clearest way to confirm it is to take the Romans 12 gifts assessment, which ranks all seven gifts for you.
What are the weaknesses of the gift of giving?
Left unchecked, this gift can drift: can use generosity to control outcomes or people; unpredictable patterns of giving can upset family or close relationships; tendency toward materialism or pride in what they provide. Maturity comes through practices like give in secret as your normal practice and let the spirit, not strategy, lead your most significant gifts.
- What is the spiritual gift of giving?
- Shares material assistance and support. Channels resources to fund the work of God. In the Romans 12 framework this gift is often called "The Giver," described as the arms of the body: A strong support to those on the front lines — gives time, talent, energy, and means to advance the gospel.
- Where is giving listed in Romans 12?
- It appears in Paul's list of gifts in Romans 12:6–8 — "the one who contributes, in generosity". The underlying Greek word is μεταδίδωμι (Metadidōmi, Strong's 3330).
- What does the Greek word Metadidōmi mean?
- From metá ('with, sharing') and dídōmi ('to give'). To share over — to give a portion of what is yours so another may have. The giver sees resources as seed, not security. They love to fuel kingdom work with material, financial, and relational means.
- Who in the Bible had the gift of giving?
- Scripture shows this gift at work in people such as Dorcas (Acts 9:36–42), Cornelius (Acts 10:1–4), Epaphras (Colossians 4:12–13), Paul (Acts 20:33–35). Keeps us sharing and provides for specific needs.
- How do I know if giving is my gift?
- People with this gift usually recognize themselves in patterns like: generous, often anonymously and without strings attached; senses where resources are needed and moves quickly to supply them; stewards money, time, and possessions as kingdom seed. It primarily meets material needs. The clearest way to confirm it is to take the Romans 12 gifts assessment, which ranks all seven gifts for you.
- What are the weaknesses of the gift of giving?
- Left unchecked, this gift can drift: can use generosity to control outcomes or people; unpredictable patterns of giving can upset family or close relationships; tendency toward materialism or pride in what they provide. Maturity comes through practices like give in secret as your normal practice and let the spirit, not strategy, lead your most significant gifts.
Compare
How giving differs from the other six gifts
Swipe to compare
Most believers carry giving alongside two or three supporting gifts. The Romans 12 gifts assessment ranks all seven for you, or read the overview of all seven gifts.