Discipleship means learning from Jesus and following in his footsteps to become more like him.
Generosity means giving freely, something Jesus modeled in the Bible and continues to do for us all.
We too should give generously, following Jesus’ example. In that way, generosity is a way we live as a disciple of Jesus.
Generous giving isn’t just a nice-to-do. Instead, it’s proof of who we’re becoming as we follow Jesus. It’s discipleship in action, changing our lives and the lives of others. Here, we explore discipleship and generosity in the Bible, uncover the impact of giving and discuss practical ways to live generously as a disciple.
What Is Discipleship?
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” — Matthew 4:18-19, NIV
We first hear the word “disciple” in the New Testament when Jesus begins calling disciples to follow him. The Greek word for “disciple” is mathetes, which comes from the word manthano, meaning “to learn.” So “disciple” means “learner” or “pupil.”
When reading the Gospels, we don’t just see 12 men following Jesus around. Instead, we see them constantly learning from him, growing closer to him with each passing day. And we see them becoming more like Jesus as they put what he teaches them into practice.
This is what discipleship looks like. As Christians, we’re called to be “learners” too, studying Jesus’ ways, following in his footsteps and becoming more like him.
Generosity in the Bible: What It Means
The Greek word for “generosity” is eumetadotos, which means “liberal.” To give generously is to give liberally or freely, without restraint.
Giving freely or generously is a Christian value or a principle that Jesus taught and we should follow. In fact, Jesus talks about generosity many times throughout the Bible.
Matthew 10:8 (NIV): “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:42 (NIV): “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Luke 6:38 (NIV): “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 12:33 (NIV): “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
Jesus: An Example of Generous Giving
Jesus didn’t just talk about generous giving — he lived it out. Many times in Scripture, we see Jesus giving freely to those around him.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus devoted his time and energy to patiently teaching his disciples the ways of heaven, both day and night.
In John 6, he fed 5,000 people with just five small bread loaves and two fish. Better yet, he served them “as much as they wanted” (John 6:11) until they were full.
In Matthew 4, crowds came from all over Syria to be healed by Jesus. With compassion, he gave up his time to heal them all and expected nothing in return.
In Mark 10, Jesus generously gives honor and belonging to children who were otherwise rejected, even by his own disciples.
In John 19, Jesus, the King of the world, gave up his own life to save ours.
How Generosity Is Discipleship Lived Out
As Jesus’ disciples, we’re called to learn from his example and follow it. If Jesus is generous, we must be generous. Giving is a powerful way to actually live out our discipleship, showing visible proof of our commitment to Christ.
Generous Giving Puts Jesus’ Teaching Into Action
Giving generously takes the teachings of Jesus and turns them into a way of life. It turns following Jesus into something we believe we should do into something we practice. When we give generously, we’re choosing to follow him with not only our hearts but also our hands.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:40, NIV
Generous Giving Brings the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10, NIV
Jesus prayed for God’s kingdom to come to earth. And throughout Scripture, his teachings show us how to bring the things of heaven — compassion, peace, hope and even generosity — to the world we live in.
As disciples, we are representatives of heaven, a place where brokenness like sickness, hunger, pain and poverty are no more. Through generous giving, we can do our part to help people overcome these circumstances here on earth, making the world look a bit more like the heaven we’ll experience in the future.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:3-4, NIV
Giving something as simple as a meal can meet someone’s need while bringing them to the feet of Jesus, the one they can always depend on to provide. As they start to follow him, they can serve others too, creating a ripple effect that continues to build God’s kingdom.
Generous Giving Changes Us Too
Giving doesn’t just change the lives of those around us — it changes our lives too. As we give generously, we learn to trust God as our Provider, not ourselves. We grow in compassion and humility. We start to loosen our grip on earthly things.
With each act of giving, we transform into the likeness of Christ, the ultimate goal of discipleship.
The Impact of Generosity: Heart Surgery for Otneil
Giving generously doesn’t just mean giving money. You can give generously of your time. Your encouragement. Your prayers. For Otniel, the local church’s generosity of all those things changed his family’s life.
At 3 years old, Otniel from Peru loved to play. But even after just a few minutes of fun, he would lose his breath. His mother, Julissa, noticed that he would be tired, nauseated and even cold.
Otniel had been registered at the local Compassion center, where he received routine medical checkups. During a checkup, Julissa shared her concerns, inspiring staff to send her and little Otniel to a larger hospital for further evaluation.
“I took my son on a Friday. A pediatrician examined Otniel and checked his heart, but the doctor had a strange look on his face. He had heard something off in his heart.” — Julissa, Otniel’s mother
Otniel was soon examined by a cardiologist who delivered a devastating diagnosis: third-degree coarctation of the aorta. His aorta was narrowed severely, causing his oxygen to drop and his blood pressure to run too low. Julissa and her husband, Odar, would need to take Otniel to Lima for heart surgery — and fast.
The doctors told Julissa she should be prepared for the worst. That there was no guarantee Otniel would survive the surgery. As she went home that day, overwhelming fear filled her heart.
The thought of her son dying was more than she could bear, but the weight of poverty also pressed. Even though Otniel’s surgery would be covered through a health assistance program, the extra expenses like plane tickets, lodging and continued medical care after the surgery were more than they could ever afford.
Compassion Covers Otniel’s Extra Expenses
Remembering the Compassion center, Julissa spoke with the center staff about their situation. Immediately, the local church began to pray and mobilize support. Center staff informed Julissa that they would cover the extra expenses, including plane tickets, lodging, medication and exams.
With hope, Julissa, Odar and Otniel flew to Lima. During a pre-op exam, fluid was found on Otniel’s lungs, requiring treatment before he could undergo his heart surgery. After a few months, Otniel was finally wheeled into the operating room.
The surgery was completed, and Otniel was placed in the ICU under observation to rest. Julissa and Odar had nothing to do but pray and wait.
“While we waited, the pastor and the church checked on us every day. They prayed for us over the phone, encouraged us with Bible verses to stand on and made sure we were okay. We also took the opportunity to share the gospel with other parents who were at the hospital.” — Julissa
Otniel suffered no further complications and was released a month later. Now, Otniel continues to heal and grow. With each follow-up appointment, he makes more and more progress. Doctors are able to reduce his medication dosages with every visit.
Otniel is also in school, where he tells his friends how God healed him daily. He shows his surgical scars and wears them proudly.
“My son is a champion and has a huge smile on his face again. He has some flashbacks of his time at the hospital, and often, he says he wants to pray for his friends who were sick with him there. He tells everyone that God healed him and shows them his scars.” — Julissa
In Otniel’s story, generosity looked like more than finances. It looked like continuous prayer. It looked like sharing Biblical truth. It looked like encouragement during one of life’s darkest moments.
Generosity not only saved Otniel’s life, but it also strengthened his family’s faith. And that’s further proof that generosity is discipleship.
“We couldn’t have made it without the Compassion center’s support. We never felt alone. There are not enough words to express our gratitude. Our faith has been strengthened. God’s hand sustained our hearts during this entire process. We’re very grateful and know that even if death stares us in the face, God will be with us and see us through. We are deeply grateful to God, the Compassion center, the church and our children’s sponsors.” — Julissa
Practical Ways to Live Generously as a Disciple
Ready to start living generously as a disciple of Jesus? There are many practical, everyday ways you can do just that.
1. Practice Every Day Giving
Each day, look for an opportunity to give. For example, perform a small act of kindness for someone. Invite someone over for a meal. Donate your extra things to a local charity. There are endless opportunities to give daily if we make a point to see them.
2. Give to Care for Someone’s Needs
Jesus not only cared for the spiritual needs of those around him, but he also cared for their bodies, hearts and souls too. For example, while he shared the lifechanging gospel with the 5,000, he also fed them generously. We should do the same.
For example, give canned goods to a local food pantry. Offer to drive someone in need of transportation to a doctor’s appointment. Or give to a ministry caring for children in poverty.
3. Be Generous With Your Words
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV
Who can you “build up” today? Who can you show generosity to through words? Take a moment to send a text of encouragement to someone you love. Write a note of gratitude to a co-worker. Or send a Bible verse to a friend.
There’s power behind our words (Proverbs 18:21). Your words might just change a person’s day. And who knows? Maybe even their life.
4. Pray Generously
James 5:16 tells us that a righteous person’s prayers are powerful and effective. And Jeremiah 29:12 reminds us that when we call on God, he hears us. Perhaps the greatest act of generosity is praying for those around you, bringing their needs to the feet of Jesus.
Take some time each day to pray for others. Pray for a friend who’s in need of healing. Pray for a family member struggling through a hard time. Pray for children in poverty.
To be a disciple is to learn from Jesus and follow his example. And since Jesus is generous, our generosity is proof of our walk with him. How can you live out your discipleship through generosity today?