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The next time your pastor asks about tithes, drop in some food produce like yams, kontomire and plantain. Malachi 3:10 says, �Bring all the tithes into the STOREHOUSE, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. �We don�t put money in a storehouse, only food. Jesus himself also said in Luke 11:42, �But woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs�� The tithe is supposed to be a tenth portion of the food harvested by all households which is brought into the house of God or where he chooses for his children to have a feast unto him. It was also meant to be a sort of tax to help support church activities. This is clear in Deuteronomy 14: 22-23; �Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.� When a household cannot carry all the foodstuffs to the feast venue, they sell the foodstuffs and then take the money to the feasting venue, where they purchase food and drinks and feast and rejoice for what God has done. The people were to take care of the priests� food and drinks because they did not have any sources of income. This is clear in Deuteronomy 14:24, 27, �And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.� Today�s pastors say that if you don�t pay tithes you won�t prosper or God will bring poverty and other undesirables to your doorstep. Prosperity that comes from the Lord comes from obedience to His word. Joshua 1:7-8 �Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.� The Scripture that most preachers use is the one in Philippians 4:17 �Not that I seek or am eager for (your) gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account. �They use this to control and manipulate you into giving money. If you study the Scriptures in this chapter you will find that Paul was in jail. What did he need money for in jail? The things that were given were probably some provisions but not money as is taught. Well, that puts the preachers, teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets and apostles in a very dangerous situation. They should be feeding the poor and not taking from the poor! Billions and billions of GH cedis have gone into tithes but what do we have to show for all that except pastors living like Hellywood (Hollywood) stars. These pastors serving Mammon should remember Malachi 3:9 �You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. One pastor remarked that his goal was to ride in a Toyota Land Cruiser and live in a grand mansion. Most members of his congregation live in poverty and put in the offering bowl more money than they can spare because they have been brainwashed into thinking they are sowing the seeds of prosperity or �breakthroughs.� This pastor takes the church officials to �camps� at ultra luxurious resorts but always claims the church needs money for this and that and takes at least 2 offerings at service. You will see a man who appears humble but as soon as he becomes a pastor, he comes into money, rides in flashy cars, etc. These pastors claim the items are gifts from church members. If they are real pastors they would distribute the items to church members who need them most. They are supposed to emulate Jesus Christ. I don�t think Jesus would be riding in flashy cars when members of his congregation are on the brink of starvation. Pastors of mega churches are more than multi-million dollar CEOs and businessmen. They own fleets of expensive cars and live in magnificent houses while members of their congregation go to church on foot and struggle to put food on the table for their families. The sad thing is that the church members are deceived into thinking that�s how things are supposed to be. Henceforth, if your pastor asks for tithes, bring in foodstuffs. If he asks for money like the scores of pastors, he is a false prophet and run, not walk, out of such a church. Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:15, �Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep�s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.� They use all kinds of emotional appeals, which compel you to give. They announce donations in church so people feel pressured to give more than the other person and it turns into a competition. They forget that Jesus has urged us to do alms in secret. Matthew 6:3-4, �But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Be sure to give alms to the right people. There are widows and orphans everywhere who need financial assistance. There are children who get sent home everyday because their parents cannot afford to pay school fees. Instead of giving money to a corrupt pastor to live lavishly, which will give you NO blessings, go to the headmistresses of the schools in your district and ask about children who have a hard time paying fees and help them out. Assist the delinquent child in your area in learning a trade so that he does not turn into an armed robber who will torment you later. Do things for the poor or whatever God places on your heart to do but NEVER pay a tithe to your pastor. The whole message here is that many preachers preach on giving tithes to line their pockets, and not for you to get a blessing from God. If you pay your tithe to your pastor to live lavishly, you will not be blessed by God because you are not obeying his law on tithes. In addition, you are giving money to an evil man to help him continue in his sin. God speaks to our hearts as to who, when, and how much to give. God doesn�t need a middleman by having them pass an offering plate round. OFFERINGS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, YES. TITHING, NO. He who hath ears, let him hear.