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Donations from a Christian perspective
For many people of faith, giving is far more than just one good deed amongst many. It is rooted in a millennia-old understanding of how people should handle their possessions and their responsibility towards others. The following section explores what the Bible says about giving, the role that love for one’s neighbour plays in this, and how this principle can be put into practice in everyday life today.
What does the Bible say about giving?
Even in the Old Testament, we find the idea that a portion of one’s possessions does not belong solely to oneself, but is due to the community and to God. This fundamental attitude runs through the entire biblical tradition and is supplemented in the New Testament by a more inward, voluntary dimension.
The Tithe in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the payment of a tenth of one’s produce – the so-called tithe – was a fixed rule for the people of Israel. Among other things, this payment served to provide for priests, as well as for widows, orphans and strangers who did not own land themselves. Thus, from the very beginning, giving was closely linked to social welfare, not merely to religious duty in the narrower sense. The practice known as ‘leaving the gleanings’ – whereby landowners deliberately left part of their harvest unharvested so that those in need could gather it themselves – also demonstrates how deeply the principle of sharing was embedded in everyday life at that time.
Voluntary Giving and Joy in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts noticeably from a fixed, obligatory contribution towards a voluntary attitude rooted in conviction. A well-known principle is that everyone should give as much as they have resolved in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but with joy, as such giving is particularly valuable. The story of the poor widow, who gave two small coins despite her meagre means, is also often cited as an example of how it is not so much the absolute amount of a donation that matters as the inner attitude with which it is given. The early Christian community in Jerusalem is said to have lived out this principle to such an extent that possessions were shared so that no one within the community would fall into need.
Charity as a central principle
Ultimately, the Christian practice of giving is underpinned by a simple yet far-reaching principle: love for one’s neighbour. It calls on us to treat our fellow human beings with the same concern and care that we would wish for ourselves, regardless of how close or distant that person actually is to us. This commandment explicitly applies not only to people within one’s own faith community, but to every person one encounters, regardless of their background or circumstances.
This understanding of charity helps us to view giving not merely as a duty, but as a practical expression of a deeper belief in the dignity of every human being. In practice, this often leads to the following fundamental attitudes:
- Those in need are not discriminated against on the basis of their background, religion or nationality
- Giving is seen as part of a fulfilling life of faith, not as a burdensome extra task
- One’s own possessions are seen as something that has been entrusted to us and should be shared responsibly
- Small contributions are expressly valued, not just large sums
Historically, this ethos gave rise to many church-run social welfare organisations, hospitals and educational institutions, which continue to this day to serve those in need, regardless of their religious affiliation.
How can this principle be put into practice today?
In a modern, often hectic world, this millennia-old principle can still be put into practice in a very practical way, without the need for a specific denomination or elaborate rituals. What remains crucial is the inner attitude behind the donation, not its outward form.
Specific ways of putting this idea into practice today include, amongst others:
- Regular, manageable donations rather than one-off but ill-considered acts of generosity
- Carefully selecting organisations that handle donations transparently and accountably
- Volunteering as a complement to financial support
- An open discussion with children and young people about the meaning and value of sharing
To this day, many Christian-based aid organisations link this idea to concrete, practical work, for example in the fields of education, healthcare or support for children living in poverty. The biblical concept of voluntary, joyful giving remains evident here: it is less about fulfilling a duty and more about an inner conviction that sharing is part of a fulfilling life.
Ultimately, it becomes clear that the Christian perspective on giving is remarkably timeless. Whether it is the tithe in the Old Testament or the poor widow’s small coin in the New Testament: time and again, the point is that the willingness to give is more important than the absolute amount, and that genuine love for one’s neighbour is demonstrated precisely when it arises voluntarily and from inner conviction, not from external pressure. This attitude can be practised regardless of one’s own financial situation, for it looks first to one’s inner willingness and only then to the actual amount given.