Some days ago, I watched an interview with one of Nigeria’s most prominent prosperity preachers, who has previously said on camera that Scripture talks more about money than about things that are sacred to our faith (by that, he meant Christianity) and that God wants us all to prosper, and if we believe and practice what Scripture says, we will prosper financially.
He is one of the proponents of tithing, which he says if you pay, you MUST always prosper. He said all this on camera. His name is Matthew Ashimolowo. Instead of arguing with me, Google his video and watch it.
So, imagine my surprise when this fellow complained bitterly during the interview about losing large sums of money he invested in various Nigerian bank stocks. Please, instead of attacking me, watch the interview yourself. It is recent.
Then this man went on to complain about how he borrowed money from a bank and the bank sent people to the church he leads during service to intimidate him and get their money back.
He said the money he lost would be equivalent to billions today.
By Matthew Ashimolowo’s own confession in that interview, his personal life experiences contradict what he has been teaching about prosperity.
If tithing is the way to wealth and this prosperity Gospel is effective, why would Mr. Matthew Ashimolowo complain about losing such large amounts? Why will he borrow from a bank? Someone like him ought to be a lender, not a borrower.
I do not pay or demand tithes, yet I make serious money on the stock market. By the grace of God, I have the largest paid subscribers of any African on X, formerly Twitter, because I help my followers invest their money profitably.
Google my success with NVIDIA. When my subscribers invested, it was $435. They made times three of their money. That is just one in a very long line of successes.
For that and other reasons, I was named the most influential business person in Africa by Business Insider, which is close to being the world’s Number One business-focused magazine.
I am successful at this because I read voraciously, and then pray to God to open my eyes, and subsequently act in faith by applying the knowledge I have acquired, as though God has already answered that prayer.
Knowledge, when applied, will make you wealthy. This is why Scripture says:
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”-Hosea 4:6.
If I tithe but do not acquire knowledge, I would also lose money in the stock market, like Ashimolowo.
It is God Who gives me the power to make wealth, because of the principle of true knowledge. Which is why Yeshua said:
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”-John 8:32.
Tithing can never make you wealthy, and Matthew Ashimolowo’s experience in the stock market is a testament to that fact.
Tithing has NOTHING to do with financial prosperity.
One megachurch pastor even recently said if you don’t pay your tithe, your life is at risk. Today is Professor Wole Soyinka’s ninetieth birthday. He has NEVER paid tithe in his life. He does not even believe in God. Why was his life not cut short if what the pastor told you is true?
It is time to emancipate yourselves from being manipulated by religion.
If you do not pay tithes, your life is NOT at risk. Please fact-check me: As a nation, Japan has the highest average life expectancy of any country on Earth, with an average life span of 84 years. Yet, Christians make up only 1.5% of their population, and the vast majority of their Christians do not pay tithes. Meanwhile, Nigeria has one of the lowest average life expectancies on Earth, with the average Nigerian living for only 53 years. Yet, we are one of the most religious countries on Earth, with a large population of tithe payers.
How can a pastor tell you that your life is at risk if you do not pay tithe and you will remain in that place?
I have read Scripture in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek languages. The word “devourer” in the King James Version of Malachi 3:11 is an agricultural term. It is common in agriculture. The devourer there just means an agricultural pest. It will be clear if you read that verse in the original Hebrew or a modern-day English version. Let me give you some versions:
“I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty.”-New International Version.
“I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing.”-Contemporary English Version.
“I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the LORD of hosts..”-New Revised Standard Version.
The King James Bible was written in 1611. Many words used in the KJV have different meanings today. For example, the word Africa is not used in the KJV. Instead, Africa is called Cush and Black peoples are called Cushites.
In 1611, agricultural pests were called devourers. That is why Malachi 3:11 in the King James Version says:
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.”
It does not mean that God will kill you if you do not pay your tithes.
The reason why agricultural terms are always used when referring to tithes in Scripture and the Bible is that tithes were an agricultural tax imposed on Jews from the eleven tribes other than the tribe of Levi and meant for the Levitical priests because they were not given a land inheritance when Moses divided up the promised land.
Even Yeshua, who we follow (not worship), did not collect tithes.
Yeshua Hamasiach (Jesus Christ) only mentioned tithes when He mentioned them strictly in agricultural terms and only to the Pharisees who were under the law. We see this in Matthew 23:23:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.”
There is no single instance of paying monetary tithes in Scripture.
The only alternative to agricultural produce was alcoholic beverages. We see this in Deuteronomy 14:24-26:
“But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or, other fermented drinks, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.”
Why did God require the ancient Israelites to pay tithes of their farm produce?
Joshua 13:14 gives the answer.
“But to the tribe of Levi, he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.”
Many of these preachers like to cite Abraham as an other. Actually, Abraham did not tithe his income or his farm harvest. Abraham tithed ONCE. And he only tithed from military plunder, also called spoils of war, and we see this in Hebrews 7:4:
“Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!”
The disciples and the early Christians never collected tithes. They took free will offerings-Acts 2:44-45. Not one person in the New Testament is recorded as paying tithes.
If a pastor justifies tithing using the Old Testament, ask them why they do not also justify polygamy since the Old Testament allows it-2 Samuel 12:8, or slavery-Deuteronomy 20:11, or other extreme forms of punishment for sexual offences-Leviticus 20:13.
Stop adjusting Scripture to your church and start adjusting your church to Scripture.
Now, let me pronounce a blessing on you. You and your household will not die if you do not pay tithes. My God shall bless you, and you are likely to live as long as a Japanese, as long as you are hardworking, avoid red meat, be family conscious, and maintain personal hygiene.
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.
