As mentioned in the earlier paper, the tithes that are mentioned in the Old Testament seem to be a freewill offering, and though first offered to God, they were then given to the priests and the Levites as the means by which they were sustained in their service for God. This principle still remains today and the poverty stricken state of the Church, means often that the servants of God are not properly supported,

Where people do give with a willing and cheerful heart to God, then He will return more to the giver than they have given to God. This does not mean that any person, who gives to God, should do so expecting to gain more from God than they have given. Thus the "Prosperity Doctrine", is based on a wrong premise altogether, and arises from the principle of covetousness, or human greed. This is hateful to God, and He will not give to that person. We are to give to God, or to lend hoping to receive nothing in return. (Luke 6:35). This is quite reasonable because all that we have comes from God in the first place, and we are only giving back to Him what He has first given to us.

However it must be pointed out that when through the lack of faith. We withhold from God, when we are greedy and keep what belongs to him for ourselves, then God may withhold His blessing, withhold from us what He normally would give, and so our poverty and misery increases. Thus withholding from God feeds on itself. (Proverbs 11:24)

The Children of Israel to whom Malachi was sent as messenger had fallen into this error, they were robbing God, and because of this were reduced to poverty. God challenged them to put Him to the test, by bringing all the tithes, (the whole tithe), to Him, so that the priests and the Levites were abundantly supported. (They had given up their work and returned to their meagre possessions in order to support their families). And to see if He would not open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing as they would not be able to contain. (Malachi 3:8-10).

There are some Denominations and Organizations that seek to circumvent this principle by turning the Lord’s work onto a business. In the verse quoted the word "Corrupt", means to "Make a business of". (2Corinthians 2:17). They pay their Priests and ministers a salary, and thus come in between the servant and his Master. There is a saying in the English language, that "He who pays the Piper calls the tune", this shows the wrong of this principle. Thus the poverty stricken state continues but the Denomination or the Organization does also.

Let us never treat the service of God as a business; let us never engage in that service for material gain, never let us try to apply business principles to that service, because they just will not work. On the other hand let me encourage my brothers and sisters to give freely to the Lord, and though they do so "Hoping to receive nothing in return", yet they can be assured that the more they give to the Lord, they will receive the more from Him.

There have been dedicated saints that have discovered and acted on the principle of tithing. Men like the late Robert Le Tourneau are an outstanding example. His experiences are documented in the book "Mover of Men and Mountains. He began by giving a tenth of the profits of his business to God, but he increased it until he was giving nine tenths of his profits to God, yet he was still a millionaire when he died.

This principle applies also in the realm of what is spiritual also. It is a fact that the more one sows to the Spirit; the more one will reap from the word of God. Then when we share what we have learned, (received), with others, whether it is sharing the truths of God’s word with God’s people, or sharing the Gospel with the lost, we will receive more than we give. Here then is the secret of abundance, let us put it to the test.

Let us remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, and running over shall be given into your bosom". (Luke 6:38) It is true that the more we give to Him, the more we receive from Him. Let us not withhold more than is meet because it only tends to poverty