The Deputy Director of the Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Mrs. Margaret Osei, has admonished Christians to see tithe and offering as God’s channel of blessing and a practice worth bequeathing to the next generation.

Mrs. Margaret Osei said this in a sermon she delivered on February 15, 2018, at the Ebenezer Assembly in the Koforidua Effiduase Area during this year’s officers’ retreat dubbed, Apostolisation.

Quoting from Genesis 14:17-20; 28:20-22; Hebrews 11:4; Malachi 3:7-12 and Deuteronomy 28:1-7, the Deputy Women’s Director explained that tithe is the tenth of one’s income offered to God. She said Cain and Abel offered to God; Abraham offered a tenth of what he got to Melchisedec.

She said part payment of tithes is not tithe at all and urged Christians to pay their tithes in full, saying, “God never disappoints those who pay their tithes faithfully.”

On offering, Mrs. Osei said unlike tithe, offering has no strict rules and so should be given out of one’s free will according to how God has blessed the person. She however said that an offering should have value, whether monetary or service. She entreated Christians to look round their churches and see what they can do to enhance the work of God.

Explaining why The Church of Pentecost believes in tithe and offering, Mrs. Osei said it was instituted by God and so it is a command that must be adhered to.

The Deputy Women’s Director said it took the sacrifice of some people who sold their belongings to help finance the Church in its formative years to sustain the Church for the current generation to benefit from. “We are in this Church because of someone’s offering of gold; what are we also offering?” she queried, adding, “Even idol worshippers pay for the services of their gods.”

“Hardships will always be there, so don’t stop paying tithes because of hardship; doing so is like telling God you can take care of yourself,” she stressed.

She indicated that the woman of Zarephath never run short of food because she put God first. She therefore asked Christians not to be wise in their own eyes.

Touching on the benefits of paying tithes, she said: “God will set you high above all the nations of the world; your towns and your fields will be blessed; your children and your crops will be blessed; the offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed; your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed; wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven.

“So it is not a matter of anointing oil, binding and casting; just pay your tithes and the Lord will fight your enemies. Tithe and offering is not a thing of the past; it is a good legacy worth bequeathing.”

Report By: Ezekiel Korletey, Koforidua Effiduase Area Reporter.