Friday 20 January: Further Thought

Takeaways from Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp.245-252 

• We received the free gift of salvation from God when Jesus Christ ‘purchased us by the price of His own blood’.  
• God owns everything in the universe and asks us for tithes and offerings ‘as a token of loyalty and… submission to [His] sovereignty’. When we obey God will bless us.  
• God tests all believers.  
• We’re stewards over everything He has blessed us with since what we own really belongs to God we must use them to ‘advance His work, to build up His kingdom in the world.’  
• We must seek God’s wisdom in how to manage what we are entrusted with even if it is a small amount.  
• Every Christian is a steward and will be called to give an account for their stewardship.  
• A steward acts as how his master would, accepting the responsibility of stewardship. The master trusts the steward to manage the goods generously. Acting selfishly abuses the position of trust.  
• Gospel ministry is dependent on the work and voluntary gifts given to God from His people.  
• The portion belonging to God as set out in Scripture is not ours. We shouldn’t take what belongs to God rather it is ‘Far better cut down the expenses to correspond with the income, to restrict the wants, and live within the means than to use the Lord’s money for secular purposes.’  
• God clearly directed what tithe is to be used for and how much. It is not discretionary. All tithes must go to God’s treasury ‘and held sacred for His service as He has appointed.’  
• All stewards must follow God’s directions exactly. Stewards must not disobey or try to improve God’s ‘divine arrangements’ by giving to charity instead or offering when and how they feel to.  
• God’s instruction to Moses in Exodus 27:20 (“Thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”) was ‘a continual offering, that the house of God might be properly supplied with that which was necessary for His service.’ Today tithe funds are put towards caring for God’s property – the house of worship.  
• God will judge those who do not tithe in the right way. 
• Tithe is sacred ‘reserved by God for Himself’ and is ‘to be used to sustain the gospel labourers in their work.’  
• People who are unhappy about how their tithe is being used should petition for change not ‘rob God’ by deciding not to pay tithe.  
• In Malachi Chapter 3 God talks about the tithe. Faithful payment of tithe into God’s ministry would encourage more labourers to take up ministerial work. Furthermore, there would be an abundant supply in the Lord’s treasury.  
• Meddling in God’s tithe is punishable with loss of ‘heavenly treasure’ unless repented of.  
• God’s work must not be restricted by due tithe being ‘diverted into various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go.’ Other lines of work must be provided for but not from tithe. ‘God has not changed; the tithe is still to be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the treasury.’  
• Ministers have a duty to teach all church members ‘to be faithful in paying God His own’ to avoid a lack of means to do God’s work.  
• Malachi 3:9-10 sets out this duty stating a curse upon the people is the consequence of robbing God. Ministers must instruct and warn to ‘faithfully discharge [their] duty’.  
• We must obey God, conscientiously honouring Him to receive His blessings. If ‘we turn from His commandments, which are our life, denying that He is our God and we His people.’  
• God is a faithful God keeping His promises and is merciful to those who love Him ‘and keep His commandments to a thousand generations’. He ‘repayeth them that hate Him to their face’. (Deuteronomy 7:9 – 10) 
• Ellen White asks ‘Where shall we be before the thousand generations mentioned in this scripture are ended? Our fate will have been decided for eternity.’ Either we’ll hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” or “Depart from Me; I know you not.” 

Takeaways from Counsels on Stewardship. Pp. 65-107, Testimonies for the Church, vol.4, p.474 

• We must give the first portion of our income to God. It was a requirement for the Jews to bring the firstfruits of their increase to God. Nowadays this requirement if considered at all is left ‘til last even though ‘our work needs tenfold more means now than was needed by the Jews.’ Christians in carrying out the great commission have an ‘increased responsibility’ today. If tithing was required ‘thousands of years ago, how much more essential are they now!’ ‘…it is doubly essential now.’ 

• Most Christians give reluctantly. ‘Many of them do not give one twentieth of their income to God, and many give far less than that…’ 
• ‘If all the tithes of our people flowed into the treasury of the Lord as they should, such blessings would be received that gifts and offerings for sacred purposes would be multiplied tenfold, and thus the channel between God and man would be kept open.’    
• ‘Spiritually awake’ Christians are receptive to God’s voice and their own conscience ‘demanding the tithes and offerings due the Lord.’ 
• ‘When [Christians] shall arouse and lay their prayers, their wealth, and all their energies and resources at the feet of Jesus, the cause of truth will triumph.’ 
• Sinful, careless dishonesty and covetousness of Christians in paying their due tithe is prevalent with many feeling they may do whatever they want with their money whether investing, buying goods or giving to charity. ‘The lack of integrity is prevailing to quite an extent among those who profess to keeping the commandments of God and looking for the soon appearing of their Lord and Saviour.’ 

• Neglect of one’s duty to pay tithe contrary to God’s command causes embarrassment to ‘our institutions’. If everyone did their duty there would be enough financial means to ‘release the cause from financial embarrassment and to nobly carry forward the missionary work in its various departments.’   
• Those who have robbed God by withholding tithes thinking they will gain from it ‘will eventually experience [His] curse’. 
• ‘Nothing but utter inability to pay can excuse one in neglecting to meet promptly his. Obligations to the Lord. Indifference in this matter shows that you are in blindness and deception, and are unworthy of the Christian name.’      
• If a church sees that an individual is ‘neglecting to fulfil his vows they should labour with him kindly but plainly.’ Helping individuals unable to pay. 
• ‘God would have the members of His church consider their obligations to Him as binding as their indebtedness to the merchant or the market. Let everyone review his past life and see if any unpaid, unredeemed pledges have been neglected, and then make extra exertions to pay the “uttermost farthing,” for we must all meet and abide the final issue of a tribunal where nothing will stand the test but integrity and veracity.’                                                                              

Takeaways from Ellen G. White Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 17, 1901 

• We must tithe to enable God’s workers to carry the Gospel worldwide. Gospel work abroad is in ‘great need of workers, and of facilities to enable the workers to do successful work.’ 
• Everyone on earth is ‘constantly drawing from God’s storehouse’ for sustenance. It is a contractual relationship contained in Malachi, Chapter 3 whereby God directs people ‘to draw from His storehouse, and then make a return to Him in gifts and offerings, “that there may be meat in [His] house.”’ 
• Ellen White urges ‘There is no time to lose.’ God’s work is impeded by people not realising what God has asked of them. European institutions are burdened by debt and embarrassment. Work must be done to free these institutions from these burdens.  
• May God see His people are willing to give where it is needed ‘to release the Lord’s instrumentalities from debt and establish them upon a solid basis’.  
• Special effort’ is needed ‘to help the departments of God’s work which are in need of help.’ Ellen White describes aspirational advancements of God’s work; ‘new territory’ governed by ‘the standard’, camp-meetings ‘held in many places’, and new churches all made possible if brothers and sisters worldwide church ‘consecrate themselves and their possessions to God’. She emphasises freewill offerings brought to God who gave His only begotten Son saving us from ‘eternal death.’ Those who deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow God will find rest for their souls.  
• When believers bring to God ‘a faithful tithe’, ‘peace offerings and thank offerings… there will be no dearth of means in His treasury.’ 
• Ellen White ends with a passage from Isaiah Chapter 54 with God speaking restoration and blessings over Israel and ‘for us’.  
• She says, ‘Our time for work is short. We have not a moment to lose. Let us do something for Christ, and do it now.’ 

Discussion Questions  

1. The fact that the practice of tithing did not originate in Ancient Israel but in the days of Adam helps us understand the perpetuity of this obligation on our part before God since it has been required from the beginning. On the topic of tithing and offerings Abel ‘brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.’ (Genesis 4:4) Still a requirement in Jesus’ time Jesus confirmed tithing is a matter of the law when He said ‘Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith….’ (Matthew 23:23) 

2. The attitude that says, Well, my tithe is so small in contrast to everything else, it doesn’t matter ignores the fact it all adds up as the Scottish proverb says “Many a mickle makes a muckle”. Aside from this God can use our seemingly small tithes to accomplish big things. 5000 men were fed from ‘only’ a little boy’s packed lunch with 12 baskets left over. (Matthew 14) If everyone has this attitude there will be no mickle to make the muckle, no meat in God’s storehouse.  

3. When I have given tithe I have experienced God’s provision, and ends have been met on a low income. I’m still learning about the practice and need to learn more.