By Miriam Oparebea, GNA
Tema, Dec. 24, GNA — Bishop George Nii Noi Payne, the Founder and Head, Restoration Christian Fellowship International, has encouraged Christians to take the payment of tithes more seriously in the coming year, explaining that tithing remains a permanent moral obligation with spiritual and material implications for believers.
Bishop Payne, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), described tithing as an enduring principle that transcended generations, noting that although the mode of payment had evolved over the centuries, the spiritual foundation of the tithe remained unchanged.
He explained that in biblical times, earnings were largely in kind, particularly farm produce, making tithing a form of barter involving food items, however, the shift to cash-based income did not invalidate the principle that the first 10 per cent belonged to God.
Citing Leviticus 27:30 and Malachi 3:10–11, Bishop Payne rejected claims that tithing was no longer relevant under the New Testament, explaining that the Old Testament provided foundational spiritual laws that continued to apply to believers today.
He cited successful Ghanaian business figures, including Ernest Chemist and Borgas, as contemporary examples of individuals who had prospered through faithfulness in tithing.
He stated that such individuals remained committed and obedient in giving, often exceeding the required ten per cent, a discipline that had contributed to the nationwide expansion of their businesses.
The bishop also addressed social media narratives suggesting that tithing merely served to enrich pastors, describing such views as misconceptions.
He explained that tithes were used by churches, including Baptist and Pentecostal denominations, to support administrative work, assist the needy and respond to urgent financial needs of members, which he described as an added blessing to the church community.
Bishop Payne linked financial faithfulness to spiritual security, stating that believers were engaged in constant spiritual warfare and that God rebuked negative forces on behalf of those who honoured Him through tithing.
The blessings did not always manifest as money but could appear in the form of protection from accidents, misfortune and other dangers, stressing that even when income appeared insufficient, God sustained those who prioritised giving, he said.
To promote consistency, he advised believers to adopt a weekly tithing approach by setting aside a tenth of every income or blessing as it was received, rather than waiting until the end of the month.
He urged believers to view tithing as a covenant relationship with God and a means of securing their future, expressing confidence that faithful givers would experience financial empowerment and business growth in 2026.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/ Christabel Addo