Tithes and Offerings by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 2, 1916

Tithes and Offerings

By G. B. THOMPSON

(Reading for Thursday, December 7)

Tithes and Offerings

G. B. THOMPSON

“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” Mal. 3:7-9.

It seems fitting at this annual time of seeking God that we give prayerful consideration to these words of an ancient prophet. That this scripture has an application to the last days seems clear from the fact that, after rebuking the people for robbing God, the prophet brings before us the awful day of God, and when the wicked will be consumed like stubble, and the earth cleansed from sin.

This is a fearful indictment the Lord here brings against his people. To rob our fellow man is a great sin; but surely it is infinitely worse for a man to rob his Maker.

How have we robbed God? Listen to the answer: “In tithes and offerings.” Brethren and sisters, are we guilty? Have we been robbing God? Have we withheld our tithes? We must meet these questions in the judgment.

If withholding the tithe in the days of the prophet Malachi was robbery,—was really a transgression of the commandment which says, “Thou shalt not steal,”—then it is so still. The Lord has not changed; it is still robbing him to withhold from his treasury that which he has declared holy and has reserved for his own work. It brings upon the transgressor the curse of Jehovah,—“Ye are cursed with a curse.” It is a terrible thing to be under the curse of God. How can we expect a refreshing from God at this week of prayer if we fail to give to him his own? It truly must be a sad spectacle for the pure and holy God to behold a man claiming to believe in the Son of God, to be washed from sin in his blood, to be preparing for translation into a kingdom where the very streets of the eternal city are made of pure gold and its gates of pearl, yet so covetous that he robs the treasury of God of that which is holy, that he may use it for his own selfish purposes.

That some are withholding from God the sacred tithe and bringing upon themselves and the church the curse of God, the following from the Spirit of prophecy makes quite clear:—

“Many who profess to be keeping the commandments of God are appropriating to their own use the means which the Lord has intrusted to them, and which should come into his treasury. They rob God in tithes and in offerings. They dissemble, and withhold from him to their own hurt. They bring leanness and poverty upon themselves, and darkness upon the church, because of their covetousness, their dissembling, and their robbing God in tithes and offerings.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. III, p. 269.

“Many” of those who profess to keep the Sabbath and to look for the Lord to come, guilty of robbing God! Members of the church, praying for a blessing, yet ruled by covetousness and defrauding the Almighty! No wonder the power of the Holy Spirit is withheld. Shall we not at this very meeting repent of this terrible sin, restore to God, so far as we can, that which we have withheld, and receive from him the promised blessing? The Lord does not ask us to pay tithe because he needs the money. He could rain gold from heaven. But he has instituted the tithing system because we need the blessed experience of recognizing God in all we do.

The example of Achan should be studied carefully in this connection. The Lord had said that all the silver and gold and all vessels of brass and iron found in Jericho were consecrated to him, and should “come into the treasury of the Lord.” Joshua 6:19. But Achan said, “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels’ weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.” Joshua 7:21. How sad to think that one who doubtless had marched around Jericho and helped raise the triumphant shout of victory when the Lord gave them the city, should do this wicked thing! But covetousness caused him to do it. The Lord tells us this was sin, transgression, stealing, dissembling, and that he would be with them no more unless they destroyed the accursed thing from among them. See verses 11-13. This was why Israel could not stand before their enemies. There was a robber in the camp, one who had among his own stuff that which belonged in the treasury of God.

This record of Achan’s sin should lead us to a careful examination to ascertain if we, like Achan, through covetousness have hidden among our stuff that which belongs in the treasury of God. We greatly fear that an honest search will reveal that the sin of Achan is in our midst, and that for this reason Israel today is weak and unable to push the work of God as it should be.

It is quite evident that the Saviour did not in any way change or abridge the sacred obligation of paying tithe. “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, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matt. 23:23.

“These,” that is, “judgment, mercy, and faith,” the “weightier matters of the law,” ought ye to have done, but not to leave the “other,” paying tithe, undone. The Pharisees were particular in this matter, tithing even the smallest garden herbs; and Jesus did not say they were too particular. He did not tell them that it was of no importance, that it was a part of the types and shadows which were soon to meet their antitype and pass away. He did not intimate that the Lord was not particular in such small matters. Far from it! Indeed, he said that it was an obligation that they should not leave undone. In what stronger language could he have enforced the strict payment of tithes than in the language here used? And surely if scribes and Pharisees should pay tithes, those who believe in Jesus as their Saviour, and who are looking for him soon to return in the clouds of heaven, should do so. And that which Jesus says we are not to leave “undone,” cannot be left undone, except at the peril of our souls.

Further, we should not overlook the lesson taught by God’s dealings with Ananias and Sapphira. The story of their sin and its punishment is recorded for our instruction fully as much as is anything else which took place under the spiritual awakening in the early church after Pentecost. They had vowed to give to God a certain amount. But Satan suggested that this was too much; that they could pretend to live up to the vow made, and yet keep back part of the price received for the land. Covetousness led them to conspire together to do this wicked thing. The rebuke administered by the Lord indicates to the end of time how the Lord regards the terrible sin of lying to the Holy Ghost and failing to fulfil one’s vows.

The lesson is for the church today. “The hearts of men become hardened through selfishness, and like Ananias and Sapphira, they are tempted to withhold part of the price, while pretending to come up to the rules of tithing. Will a man rob God? Should means flow into the treasury exactly according to God’s plan,—a tenth of all the increase,—there would be abundance to carry forward his work.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, p. 150.

It is sad to think that, regardless of the terrible judgment which God administered as a warning against this sin, it is being repeated among us. Some hearts are being hardened as were those of Ananias and Sapphira, and while pretending to pay tithe, such individuals give only a part. Some, we fear, lay down at the end of the week, or the month, or the quarter, a sum, saying, “Here is my tithe,” when it is not a true tithe. Let us not pass this lesson over lightly, but by the aid of the Holy Spirit bring it into our own lives.

Notice, further, that we are told that we have robbed God not only in tithes, but in offerings as well. Not only have we withheld tithes from the treasury of the Lord, but our offerings have not been so liberal as they should have been. Of Cornelius it was said, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Acts 10:4. Doubtless liberal gifts accompanied the prayers of Cornelius. His prayers were not hindered by scanty giving, because of covetousness. Here is another impressive statement from the Spirit of prophecy:—

“There is a burden upon my soul in regard to the destitute mission fields. . . . There is great need of funds to advance the work in foreign fields. Our foreign missions are languishing. The missionaries are not sustained as God requires they should be. For want of funds, workers are not able to enter new fields. . . . “God’s people are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the scantiness of their gifts and offerings, and the feebleness of their efforts in God’s service, mark them as unfaithful stewards. . . . “I appeal to our brethren everywhere to awake, to consecrate themselves to God, and to seek wisdom from him. I appeal to the officers of our conferences to make earnest efforts in our churches to arouse them to give of their means for sustaining foreign missions. The Foreign Mission Board needs to carry a continual responsibility in this line. Unless your hearts are touched as you see the situation in foreign fields, the last message of mercy to be given to the world will be restricted, and the work which God would have done will be left undone.”—Special Testimony.

The scantiness of our gifts marks us as unfaithful stewards. This is a very sad condition. Surely, at this week of prayer, with a world in the last throes of dissolution, we should make such a liberal offering that this reproach will be wiped away.

These solemn words of the servant of the Lord, written years ago, should touch our hearts at this time:—

“The angel said, ‘Destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind.’ I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who loved this world, who were attached to their possessions, and were not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep who were perishing for want of spiritual food. “‘As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22), they went away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven. . . .

Then again was held up before me those who were not willing to dispose of this world’s goods to save perishing souls by sending them the truth while Jesus stands before the Father pleading his blood, his sufferings, and his death for them; and while God’s messengers are waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth that they might be sealed with the seal of the living God. It is hard for some who profess to believe the present truth, to do even so little as to hand the messengers God’s own money, that he has lent them to be stewards over. “‘The suffering Jesus, his love so deep as to lead him to give his life for man, was again held up before me; also the lives of those who professed to be his followers, who had this world’s goods, but considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, ‘Can such enter heaven?’ Another angel answered, ‘No, never, never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth, can never sing the song of redeeming love above.’”—Early Writings, pp. 49, 50.

Souls dying for the truth, and we who believe the message letting them die, by selfishly clinging to our means! Such cannot enter heaven, said the angel. No wonder the sight so pained the servant of God that she begged the angel to remove it. It ought to pain our hearts, and lead us to repentance and greater liberality to advance the cause of truth.

We have been accustomed to apply the warning in James 5 to those who are amassing great fortunes, and doubtless it has its application there, but not wholly. Read the following comment:—

“I was directed to James 5:1-3: ‘Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.’ “‘I saw that these fearful words apply particularly to the wealthy who profess to believe the present truth. The Lord calls them to use their means to advance his cause. Opportunities are presented to them, but they shut their eyes to the wants of the cause, and cling fast to their earthly treasure. Their love for the world is greater than their love for the truth, their love for their fellow men, or their love for God. He calls for their substance, but they selfishly, covetously, retain what they have. They give a little now and then to ease their conscience, but have not overcome their love for this world. They do not sacrifice for God. The Lord has raised up others that prize eternal life, and that can feel and realize something of the value of the soul, and they have freely bestowed their means to advance the cause of God. The work is closing; and soon the means of those who have kept their riches, their large farms, their cattle, etc., will not be wanted. I saw the Lord turn to such in anger, in wrath, and repeat these words: ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ He has called

but you would not hear. Love of this world has drowned his voice. Now he has no use for you, and lets you go, bidding you, ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ “‘Oh, I saw it was an awful thing to be thus forsaken by the Lord,—a fearful thing to hold on to a perishable substance here, when he has said that if we will sell and give alms, we can lay up treasure in heaven. I was shown that as the work is closing up, and the truth is going forth in mighty power, these rich men will bring their means and lay it at the feet of the servants of God, begging them to accept it. The answer from the servants of God will be, ‘Go to now, ye rich men. Your means is not needed. Ye withheld it when ye could do good with it in advancing the cause of God. The needy have suffered; they have not been blessed by your means. God will not accept your riches now. Go to now, ye rich men.’”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. I, pp. 174, 175.

In all the Book of God I know of no greater promise of reward for faithfulness than is promised to those who give to God his own. The very windows of heaven will be opened upon them, the devourer rebuked, their barns be filled with plenty, and blessing unmeasured poured out upon them. It is hard to understand how the Lord could place before us any more abundant blessings than he has been pleased to do here by the mouth of his servant. It is indeed sad that man’s heart by selfishness and covetousness becomes so hardened as to withhold from the Lord his own. Surely if we fulfil our part, the Lord will make good his promise.

The Lord is coming. The year of jubilee hastens. There will soon be a time when things earthly will be of no value. Now while probation lasts should we not make the liberal contributions to his treasury which will rejoice our hearts in the day when we meet Jesus face to face? It will take all to buy the treasure in the field. We cannot have this world and the pearl of eternal life also. The time is not far distant when men will throw their silver and gold to the moles and the bats, and crawl into the cracks and crevices of the rocks to hide from the presence of the Lord. It is no time now to hold on to worldly things. “In this way, then, every one from among you who is not bidding adieu to all his own goods cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33, Rotherham’s translation.

A little time remains in which we can use the talent and earthly treasure with which we are intrusted by the Lord for the salvation of lost souls. Let our response to the call of the hour be liberal, that the work may not be hindered.