Lessons of charity and giving stretch throughout the Bible. As
Paul notes in Acts 20:35, “… we must help the weak, remembering the words that
the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in
receiving.’” (GNT)
It’s no surprise, then, that results from a recent survey
suggest those who actively engage with Scripture are likely to embrace these
important lessons by supporting charitable causes.
A new question in American Bible Society’s fourth annual
State of the Bible survey examines the relationship between Bible engagement
and charitable giving. The responses indicate that Bible lovers are more likely
to donate to nonprofit organizations than Bible skeptics.
The survey results show that those who regularly read
Scripture gave an average of $3,259 per year to charitable organizations. Respondents
who expressed the most skepticism about the Bible averaged just $584 in
nonprofit donations.
“Care for one’s neighbor and support of one’s faith
community are themes that run throughout Scripture,” says American Bible
Society Executive Vice President for Mission Advancement R. Mark Dillon.
“It makes sense that those who spend time in God’s Word will be more
inclined to live out its principles.”
Interested in this article? Check out the full State of the Bible report.