Without the teaching of the principles contained in this lesson and the ardent, consistent practice of them, one will only reach a seed level and not a reaping level of abundant life. God will give an initial measure of seed in our lives, but we must be willing to sow that seed, whether it be spirit, mind, body or materially into the ground that it is designated for. When we learn to do this, God will give us more seed. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." When you learn to be a sower of seed, you will not only be reaping a harvest off of your seed, but God will give you more seed. He will see that you are a faithful servant, Luke 16:9-15, "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." and he that hath sowed wisely shall be given more talents. Matthew 25:28-29, "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."

In this lesson, we will deal predominantly with Faith Covenant or New Testament giving, as opposed to the procedure of the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament, God designated several tithes. These were a type of governmental tax ordained by God in the theocracy of the nation of Israel. The word tithe comes from the Hebrew word, maŽasar, meaning a tenth part. We, who are in the new covenant, however, are not obligated to Old Testament, old covenant jurisdiction, Colossians 2:14, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." There is a New Testament tithe which is more of a voluntary act as opposed to the mandatory requirement of the Old Testament.