p. 11 | Our Offerings by D. U. Hale

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1915

Our Offerings

By D. U. Hale

D. U. HALE

Word has just come to us that on June 1 the Mission Board was short $116,775 on offerings to missions. I am sorry for this shortage. I do not know how the Mission Board is managing, for our missionaries must have something to live on. They have left home and friends and all that is dear in this world, and gone to strange countries, depending upon the church members at home to support them. True, they are looking to God for support, but he has provided that their support shall come from the gifts of the people. If we fail in this, we betray the trust that the Lord has placed in us. God could provide other means of support for them, but he has not. He could move upon the hearts of the wealthy, and they would give millions to this cause, but God does not see fit to do this. He is depending upon you and me to take what he gives us as a result of our labors, and divide it with his faithful workers.

Men borrow from their neighbors and fail to pay it. There are many who make debts that they cannot pay. We all made a debt by sin that none of us could ever pay. Jesus graciously came to our relief when we could not help ourselves, and paid the debt, every whit. Now he is blessing us with means in this world, and all he has ever asked of us financially on that great debt is our tithes and offerings. He has planned to send the third angel’s message to all the world, and the only means he has provided is the tithes and offerings from those he has redeemed. Shall we fail him now in this time of need? Shall we show ingratitude for the gift of his Son for us by withholding a penny of our tithes or a particle of our offerings? Can we stand in the judgment before the Lord and say, “We have finished the work thou gavest us to do,” as long as we are withholding from his cause that which is his due?

Let us stand at our own judgment bar a moment. A brother comes to you and asks for a loan of twenty dollars. He promises to pay in three months. It runs on for six months; he does not pay. You mention it to him; he makes another promise, and fails again. You know that he has money right along for his other personal interests, but does not give you any. A year passes, then two years, and he avoids you, but does not pay you. What do you say about that man? Do you say he is honest? Do you say he is a good Christian? Can you depend on him? What is your answer?

We stand in the same relation to God. We made a debt of sin that we could never pay. Jesus paid it fully and freely. It cost him his life, but he never murmured, nor complained, nor found fault with the leaders, but paid it willingly and freely. Now he is sending this message of freedom from this debt of sin to all the world, and he asks us to help him. He says to you and me: “The tenth of all your income is mine. The offerings are mine. My message must go to all the world, ‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’” What are you answering him? Are you saying, “Here, Lord, is all thy tithe”? Are you saying, “Here, Lord, is my offering, according to the appreciation of what you have done for me”? Make the offering large, brethren, and show that you appreciate to the highest degree what the Lord has done for you.

Our offerings to missions should be large and generous. I appeal to our brethren to make up as far as possible the present deficit in the mission treasury. Let no hindrance come to the advance of our work in all the earth.