Will a Man Rob God? by W. H. BRANSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1913

Will a Man Rob God?

By W. H. BRANSON

W. H. BRANSON

There are two things that God declares to be holy; namely, the Sabbath and the tithe. Both are holy and both are to be given up entirely to the service of the Lord. Of the Sabbath we read, “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.” Ex. 31:15. Also of the tithe it is said: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. . . . And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.” Lev. 27:30-32.

God calls no more for one seventh of our time to be devoted to him and his service than he does for one tenth of our money and earthly possessions. All our time belongs to the Lord, but he allows us to use six days in the secular pursuits of life for our own interests, and reserves only one day for himself. It is holy unto the Lord. Just so all our money belongs to him, but he permits us to have the control and use of nine tenths of it, reserving only one tenth for himself, with which to carry on his work in the earth. It is holy unto the Lord. When we withhold the tithe, we virtually deny God’s sovereignty over us and his ownership of the earth.

“All should remember that God’s claims upon us underlie every other claim. He gives us bountifully, and the contract which he has made with man is that a tenth of his possessions shall be returned to God. The Lord graciously entrusts to his stewards his treasures, but of the tenth he says, This is mine. Just in proportion as God has given his property to man, so man is to return to God a faithful tithe of all his substance. This distinct arrangement was made by Jesus Christ himself.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 384.

“God lays his hand upon all man’s possessions, saying, I am the owner of the universe, and these goods are mine. The tithe you have withheld I reserved for the support of my servants in their work of opening the Scriptures to those who are in the regions of darkness, who do not understand my law. In using my reserve fund to gratify your own desires, you have robbed souls of the light which I made provision for them to receive. You have had opportunity to show loyalty to me, but you have not done this. You have robbed me; you have stolen my reserve fund. ‘Ye are cursed with a curse.’”—Id., page 387.

It would seem sad indeed to know that some of those who have been careful to keep the Sabbath and to live out before the world the great principles of this truth, had failed to recognize the importance of faithfulness in tithe paying, and that in the record books of heaven their names were recorded as unfaithful stewards. Brethren and sisters, here are some thoughts that deserve our most serious consideration. Let us be careful how we deal with God’s holy things, that we may be found faultless before him at last.