Tithes and Offerings by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 9, 1882

Tithes and Offerings.

By Editor

GIVING to the cause of God is a genuine Christian grace. A Christian character is not formed by any one act or habit. Many professed Christians have one-sided or ill-formed and unbalanced characters because they are satisfied to discharge a part of their duties, and strangely think they can be accepted as disciples of Christ while knowingly neglecting some things which are required in the Scriptures. A man may do many things which are right and good, and yet, by refusing or neglecting to do other things which are right, his character be far from that of a consistent Christian. A man may give all his goods to feed the poor, and yet lack that charity without which he is nothing. He may have faith to remove mountains, and yet lack as to be nothing. But we must not therefore conclude that faith and sacrifices are of no use. They are both important graces.

Some say in their hearts, if they do not speak it, that the Lord does not need what little I can give to carry on his work. Indeed he does not; he is not reduced to such straits. Nor does he need your faith, your services, your prayers; he does not need your salvation. The minister may say the same thing: My labor of preaching is not necessary to the triumph of the cause of God. That is true. The cause of God will triumph if we all leave it. It was not absolutely necessary that the disciples cry “Hosanna,” when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The prophecy could be fulfilled without them, for God could give voices to the stones, and thus have his word honored.

But God has appointed to save men through faith, and by the foolishness of preaching to effect that work; and he has committed that work to men. If we do not do the work he has given us, somebody else will be appointed unto it, and we will lose our crowns. Though God does not need our service, we need it in order to our salvation. God does not need that we shall be saved; his purposes of grace will be vindicated, and his truth will triumph though we are lost. But this throws back upon us the terrible question, Shall we be lost? If we presume upon the Lord’s mercies, and neglect our duties, we shall be lost as certainly as if we were the most incorrigible unbelievers.

Paul presents this subject in this light. “Not because I desire a gift,” said he; for he had proved his ability and willingness to supply his own wants; “but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” We all stand in need of that which shall abound to our account. Man is naturally selfish and covetous. By living to himself he becomes still more selfish. By acting with generosity he cultivates a generous spirit. By self-denial he overcomes the world.

We have reason to be thankful that the financial standing of the California Conference is as good as it is at the commencement of this Conference year. But we have no reason to be satisfied with what has been done the past year. A larger sum ought to be on deposit, or loaned to our College. The cause is moving forward, and increasing in magnitude. Its wants must increase. There was so much more done in establishing the College, during the past year, than the friends of the enterprise thought it possible to do in one year, that they have yet hardly realized the greatness of the work, and what is necessary to keep it progressing. Who, that loves the cause, does not rejoice at the progress of the work in California during the past year?

But much more can be done and ought to be done. The tithe money raised in this Conference is far less in amount than it ought to be. This we know, because there are many Seventh-day Adventists who pay no tithes at all. Why do not the officers of the several churches look to this matter? The churches might be stronger in spiritual strength than they are if all the members were mindful of this important duty. We have not the remotest doubt that, if our people had done something in this matter, there would have been raised, during the past year, from $3,000 to $5,000 more in this State. And this without burdening anybody, for tithes burden nobody; but, to the contrary, the brethren would have been greatly blessed. Blessed in the growth of a spirit of liberality, and blessed because God has promised to bless those who love and serve him in self-denial and renunciation of a spirit of worldliness.

What a benefit it would be to the cause, also, at this time, to have so much more means to use. It could be used in aid of the College, and of the Health Retreat, which is just now in great need of help. These institutions might be placed where they could sustain themselves, and as new calls were made to spread the truth, the officers could draw on this fund, and not stand in doubt of the propriety of enlarging the work for fear the means would not be supplied. And our Seaman’s Mission needs to be enlarged, and more time spent and labor performed, and more means must be appropriated. It is now too limited in its operations.

What shall be done? Will the officers of the Conference and of the churches take this matter in hand? We hope they will, and without loss of time.