Principles of Tithe and Offering – Lfegate Christian Ministries International

The God of heaven want you and I to live in abundance. It is never the desire of the creator for his children to be in want. In the Lord prayers, the first line says “Give us our daily bread”, not “Give us our daily bread in two days”. This shows that God want you and I everyday to live in abundance of our needs and want. Even from the beginning in the Garden of Eden, he makes provision for everything that man needed to live in abundance, even while the abundance is present, he gave them guideline to follow, and that’s principle. We control the amount of flow (amount) of blessings and provision to our needs.

Even in the Garden of Eden, there are divine principles and when they failed to obey they live for it. So also, there are divine principles to this effect. Our God is not a magician but a miracle working God, he is not a “Non-sense” God. He works by principle and respect obeyed principle. In one of my e-sermons “Principles to Seed-Faith” (available online), I shared the principle of Seed-Faith and how it will bring us to abundance and answered prayers, (Search online “Principles of Seed-Faith by Bamidele Moyo-Angel or you contact me by email) you will need the e-sermon. I emphatically stated it there that “Principles only answers to OBEDIENCE and not to fasting and prayer.”

By the grace of God, I will be sharing with you the aspect of Biblical and divine truth that will channel our course and bring us to abundance. It will answer all your questions on Tithe and offerings. This piece is by no means trying to argue any statement that has been made from any individual but by sharing a divine and a biblical truth.

Jesus said we should not neglect the tithe (Matthew 23:23). Hence giving and tithing should not be understood as Old Testament law or a religious obligation. Rather is a privilege of those who choose to exercise their faith to give.

The Old and the New Testament makes a Complete Bible, not the Old Testament only or the New Testament but both. Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. In fact, the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Personal Conclusion).

Tithing and giving offerings does not buy God’s blessing, but it does release his blessing upon our lives.

Those who tithe are expressing their faith in God in the most practical way possible. They are saying, “I believe the 90 percent that I have left after tithing, has God’s blessings on it. With God’s blessing, the 90 percent can purchase more than the 100 percent would, without his blessing.”

The poor need to give because they need God’s blessing to break the cause of poverty.

Obedience in giving brings blessings and breaks the curse of poverty!

The most popular reading about tithe and offering is often taken from Malachi 3:8 -11

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, “In what way have you robbed you?” in your TITHES AND OFFERINGS. You are cursed wit a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the store, that there may be food in my house, AND TRY ME NOW IN THIS say the Lord of hosts, “IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT FOR YOU SUCH A BLESSING THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT” and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fall to bear fruit for your field,” says the Lord of Hosts”

I will take time to explain the above Bible verses, but before then; let’s us consider some truth, importance and the origin about tithing and offering.

Every believer is a steward of everything he possesses. “As every man has received… even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1Peter 4: 10), “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1Corinthians 4: 2). A steward is one who manages, administers and takes cares of that which belongs to someone else. Since God is the one who gives every material blessing, we acknowledge his ownership. “… For all things come from you and of your own have we given back to you” (I Chronicles 29:14), “Every good gift and every perfect is from above, and comes down from the father of light…” (James 1: 17).
These shows that everything in your possession is of the Lord and is giving to you to taken care of it; as a steward, you will give account of whatever has been given to you: be it money, landed properties, your gifting and talent, material blessings etc

Did God ask us to give Tithe?

From what he has given, he asks me to give a tithe of 10 percent (what about you?): “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27: 30), “You shall truly tithe ALL the increase of your seed, that the field bring forth year by year…” (Deuteronomy 14: 22)

Jesus commanded tithing. “… For you tithe… this you should do…” (Luke 11: 42)

God’s purpose of Tithing as seen in the Old Testament

To support the poor and the needy in Israel: Among the Israelis, the harvest of every Sabbath (seventh) year was reserved for the poor. “But the seventh year you shall let your fields rest and lay still that the poor of your people may eat, and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner you shall deal with your vineyard, ad with your olive yard” (Exodus 23:11)

The gleanings of harvest were to be given to the poor and aliens.

To support the Levites: The Lord required a special “third year” tithe for the Levites, the orphan, the widow and the aliens.

“At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year… And the Levities… and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied, that the work of your hand which you to do” (Deuteronomy 14:28, 29)

God’s purpose of Tithing as seen in the New Testament

To support the poor and Needy: “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things sold, and laid them down at the apostle’s feet and distribution was made to every man according as he has need.And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, the Son of consolation, a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostle’s feet”(Acts 4:34-37)
To support Teachers and Preachers: The leaders and teachers in the Church were to be supported from the tithes and offerings given by those to whom they ministered.

“Let him that is taught in the word share with him that teaches in all good things” (Galatians 6:6). “Even so he the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1Corithians 9:14)

When Paul went out as a missionary to preach the gospel to those who had never heard it, he was supported by the Church at Philippi. “…as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only…”

God’s special Promise: To those who give, God makes a special promise. “Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give, it shall be given back to you again” (Luke 6:38)

This passage teaches us that we control the flow (amount) of God’s blessing and provision to our need. If we give spoonfuls to the Lord, he will pick up the same spoon we used and use it to spoon out what we ask for. If we have faith to give shovelfuls to the Lord, he will pick up the same shovel and use it to shovel back to us what we need in much more abundant blessing.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY: There was a time in my life that the blessings of God was coming to me so much in the area of monetary blessing and I give of my tithe each time. At a point, I received so much money in US dollars, the calculated Tithe was so high and so much for me; believe me, I did not pay it. You know what God did? He blocked the flow and the source of the blessing.

These shows: we control the flow (amount) of God’s blessing and provision to our need.

Tithing and Offering as a Privilege: Several centuries before the law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, Abraham gave a Tithe (tenth) to a representative of God (Genesis 14:18-24; Hebrew 7:1, 2). Jacob promised to give a tenth of all God blessed him with (Genesis 28:22). Jesus said we should not neglect the tithe (Matthew 23:23). Hence giving and tithing should not be understood as Old Testament law or a religious obligation. Rather is a privilege of those who choose to exercise their faith to give.
Tithing Expresses Faith: Tithing and giving offerings does not buy God’s blessing, but it does release his blessing upon our lives.

“Bring all the tithes into the store, that there may be food in my house, AND TRY ME NOW IN THIS say the Lord of hosts, “IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT FOR YOU SUCH A BLESSING THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT”

God allowed his people to tithe money, oil, wine, flour, fruit, wood, animals and other possessions.

How and where do I Tithe: Biblical, you tithe the 10 percent of your first fruit, but I have seen people in the practice of tithing 20 percent, it depends on your faith and your level of expectancy of God’s blessings. You don’t tithe and give offering necessarily every Sundays but from every blessing of God comes to you, you Tithe and offering from it.
Where do I Tithe and give Offering: You tithe to the house of God where you are receiving blessing or into a ministry that is blessing you but you can give your offering (Freewill Offerings) to the needs of Christian ministries.
How Often should I Tithe and give Offering: You tithe the first of your fruit (or income) of ALL your increase. You tithe from gift materials and money and not from your Income (salary alone). You give you offering at any period of time.
Disciplining in giving Tithe and offering: Often times, it is not easy to pay Tithe and offering, but it is a commandment. What you need to do is to “Practice discipline into Delight.”
Tithing is an Old Testament Law: No! Jesus said we should not neglect the tithe (Matthew 23:23). Hence giving and tithing should not be understood as Old Testament law or a religious obligation. Rather is a privilege of those who choose to exercise their faith to give. The Old and the New Testament makes a Complete Bible, not the Old Testament only or the New Testament but both. Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. In fact, the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Personal Conclusion).
Will I be caused if I don’t Tithe and give my Offerings according to Malachi 3:11: I don’t personally attach a cause to the fact that you are not paying your Tithe. The Bible says “If you love me, you will keep my commandment” and Tithing and giving is one of the commandment of God in the Bible. He said “Give…” So what happens to anybody who disobeys commandment? 2. Not giving your Tithe and Offering is like closing door to your abundance and open heaven.
Be A Generous and Cheerful Giver: The Bibles teaches us we are to give willingly and cheerful, from a spirit of generosity. God does not measure our giving by the amount we give. He rewards us according to what is left after we give. Jesus said the tiny amount given by the widow was greater than all the others because it was “all she has” (Luke 21:1-4). Generous giving is proof of our love, faith and maturity.

A generous believer causes others to give thanks to God! The poor need to give because they need God’s blessing to break the cause of poverty. The Macedonia Christians were in great poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2), yet they gave liberally. They had learned obedience in giving brings blessings and breaks the curse of poverty!
Jesus is the ultimate example, became poor in order to bless us. To refuse to be a faithful steward, by not giving is an act of robbery and rebellion towards God. But to yield to his purpose in giving is to receive an “Open Heaven” and abundant blessing and protection from the want and famine.

What will faithful Tithing and offering to do to me?:

It will open to your window of God’s blessing.
Devourers (sickness, pain, death, loss…) will be kept from the 90 percent
It proves your love to God and His commandment.
It positions you for blessing through open opportunities.
Is your source of healing, miracle and is your heavenly account.
It opens to your abundances.