Luke 3:10-11
"And the people asked him [John the Baptist], saying, What shall we do then?
"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."
John tells them to be generous. He tells them to give away excess possessions; to start decluttering and giving, and to simplify, so that others will have what they need.
Notice that this is more than just one of ten shirts, it's one of two. There is some personal sacrifice involved in order to bless someone else.
Later, in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, 12-15, Paul writes about such generosity, and about the consideration that is part of the determination as to how much to give to others in need:
"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
"For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
"As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."
It seems to be a choosing to provide instead of to simply accumulate. It is providing resources and tools where they may be needed instead of accumulating them.
How to personally decide a wise way to do that? In chapter 9: 7-8, he writes
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
"And God is able to make all grace (His ready willingness to help) abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
The decision is made personally and freely with your heart, implying personal counsel with the Lord as to the wise use, or the making available, of those extra things with which he has blessed us. It is about our personal stewardship
This isn't tithing. This is free-will, generosity; contributions of items or assets (to individuals or to organizations that provide access to things that others are in need of) that is inspired by personal revelation that we receive as we counsel with the Lord about the divine stewardship over the things (stuff) we have have acquired or that we have individually been given.
The challenge, in this modern age, is to avoid using our stewardship to acquire and keep extra things, and, also, when we find that we have done so, (it's part of our consumer culture) to actually take the time to seek revelation as to what are the ways to provide those things to others in need, in order to bless.
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