By Toyin Adeniyi
US-based Nigerian Pastor, Dolapo Lawal has addressed issues of tithing, giving, and the idea that financial contributions determine divine favour or punishment.
He addressed the issues in a message shared online monitored by Church Times Nigeria.
Lawal who is the Lead Pastor of Zoe Household Global (also referred to as Zoe Place Church) with branches in Nigeria and the US said in the message that conversations about money, while important, are not fundamental to salvation.
He argued that disagreements over tithing should not be elevated to matters of faith.
According to him, giving is primarily a heart matter rather than a transactional obligation meant to compel God into action .
“Our conversations about money are important, but they are not fundamentals of faith,” Lawal said, adding that differing views on tithing do not determine one’s salvation.
Bad things happen not because you don’t give
Lawal strongly rejected teachings that suggest God allows misfortune to befall believers who fail to pay tithe. He described such claims as inconsistent with the character of God as revealed in Scripture.
He cited the instance of a brother who came to tell him after a preaching engagement that any time he does not pay tithe, bad things happen to him. “That can’t be God.” Dolapo stated.
He added, “God will never allow something bad to happen to you because you did not give. That is not the God of the Bible. God allows His sun to shine on both the good and the evil”.
He warned that fear-based giving distorts the purpose of generosity and misrepresents God as reactive or petty.
According to him, God is an initiator, not a reactor, and human giving does not manipulate divine actions.
He explained that the reason things don’t change in the spirit realm is that the spirit is eternal. It is a now realm. God is alpha and omega. His person does not change . God is not reacting if he was reacting you will be ‘goding’ him.
” Our giving does not make him do something he does not want to do. You don’t sow a seed and God begins to speak in tongues.’
Pastor Lawal reasoned further that people like Elon Musk can make money because God blessed man not Christians. “The moment you enter the realms of ideas and pick something you’re blessed . So I don’t give to cajole God.’ he said.
Give and it shall be given explained
Addressing a frequently quoted scripture, “Give, and it shall be given unto you”, Lawal argued that the verse is often misapplied in church offerings.
He explained that the passage refers to human relationships, not a divine exchange system.
“Jesus didn’t say God will give. He said men will give,” Lawal explained, adding that kindness to others often results in goodwill and generosity in return, not necessarily a supernatural financial reward .
He cautioned believers against giving solely in expectation of returns, describing such motives as contrary to the sacrificial nature of true giving.
A major portion of the sermon focused on Malachi chapter 3, a passage commonly used to admonish church members over tithes. Lawal argued that the phrase “Will a man rob God?” was not directed at ordinary worshippers but at priests who mishandled offerings.
According to him, the context of the passage shows that God was addressing the “sons of Levi”, the priests, rather than accusing congregants of theft.
“God was not calling His children robbers. He was calling the priests,” Lawal said, urging Christians to read the scripture within its historical and textual context .
Old and new testament
Lawal also challenged the claim that giving is strictly an Old Testament practice, explaining that the difference between the Old and New Testaments lies not in books but in covenant approach.
According to him, while the Old Covenant approached God’s promises through works, the New Covenant approaches them through faith in Christ. He emphasized that God’s nature has not changed.
“The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament,” he said, adding that while God once required dead sacrifices, He now seeks living sacrifices, believers who willingly submit their lives in conscious devotion .
Lawal went on to criticize the practice of using money to gain influence or status within the church, warning against what he described as “buying power” through donations.
He recounted an incident where a 20-year-old boy came to give his ministry money running into millions.
“I called the boy and asked him how he came about the money. I.wanted to know his job and he could not explain. I asked the brother in charge of our finances to return the money back to him.
“You can’t steal from people and come and say you are giving to God,” he said, describing such offerings as unacceptable and dishonourable .
Lawal whose video suddenly went viral after this appearance at WOFBEC.early I’m the year emphasized that giving must come from a place of honour and integrity, not greed or manipulation.
Throughout the sermon, he repeatedly stressed that God demands total devotion, not selective obedience.
He warned against substituting financial giving for genuine spiritual commitment, such as prayer, service, and righteous living.
“Don’t come and drop money here and you are not praying in your house,” he said, insisting that God seeks believers who offer their lives, not just their resources .
Lawal urged Christians to examine their motives and understanding of Scripture rather than seeking doctrines that justify personal greed or comfort.
He maintained that giving must be understood within the broader context of Christian living, noting that devotion to God involves the whole life and not financial contributions alone.
Earlier in his message he noted that people spend so much time asking whether to tithe or not to tithe because of their heart condition about money not because they love God..
He said many are only looking for somebody to validate their views. “Some people are saying it’s old testament to tithe, if it is not old testament will you tithe?
“So the issue really is not about paying or not paying tithe. What God is trying to work on when it comes to giving os your heart. Remember God does not spend money.”
Deeper Life.Bjble.Church
He had also expressed his admiration for Deeper Life Bible Church describing members of the denomination as focused and determined to do the right thing..
“I love Deeper Life so much because when you see them you know them. They are very different . They stand for what they believe. Many talk down on them. But when I see them, I am challenged to do more in my consecration.
“I see young ladies that decide not to wear jeans, tight cloth and make up. We can say wearing those things is not a sin. But think about it, if it was sin, you that wear it, will you stop.? What we call freedom is actually bondage. I am free to do what I want. Are you free enough to stop doing it? “