4. LET us each be faithful in this duty ourselves. Example goes far in teaching others. A faithful ministry will prove a large factor in encouraging others to faithfulness. When workers themselves are false to the truths they teach, there can be but little hope of reform. On this point the General Conference at its last session adopted the following:—
“(a) That the local conference officers take special pains to see that only such executive officers are chosen as will faithfully impress upon all conference employees, not only the duty to be conscientious themselves in rendering to the Lord his own, but to be faithful also in giving instruction along these lines to all within their spheres of influence.
“(b) That the officers of all churches make themselves ensamples to their flocks in the payment of tithes and offerings, in order that they may consistently exhort others to faithfulness in this respect.”
It will be plainly seen that the aim of the General Conference is to persuade our people to place in responsible positions only such as are true and loyal in paying their tithe into the treasury of the Lord, that even church officers, such as church elders, deacons, and treasurers, shall be ensamples to the flock in the payment of their tithes and offerings, in order that they can consistently exhort others to faithfulness in this respect.
Oftentimes the tithe is diverted from its specific object; namely, the support of the evangelical work of our denomination. Sometimes we find that the churches are tempted to use their tithe in the support of local work, in the payment of church expenses, for janitor service, and such other incidental expenses as really belong to the church to supply. When the standard of loyalty to God is so lowered, it can be no marvel that conscientious people become discouraged, believing that those who are in charge of the work are not true and faithful, and consequently take their tithe into their own hands, and place it where they believe it will be used for the purpose which the Lord ordains.
Again, quoting the action of the General Conference in regard to this matter, I read as follows:—
“(f) Whereas, There is a tendency to divert the tithe from its specific object,—
“We recommend, That all our conferences sacredly guard the tithe, that this fund be not used for building purposes, but that it be entirely devoted to the support of the evangelistic work and Bible teachers.”
5. What we have said in regard to tithes, we could also say with equal force in regard to offerings. “Ye have robbed me . . . in tithes and offerings.” The Lord speaks frequently throughout his Word of the bringing of the “first-fruits of our increase,” and the making of
offerings unto the Lord. He tells us not to come before him empty handed, but to bring an offering according as the Lord hath blessed us.
Greater effort must be put forth to educate the laity and our workers along the line of systematic giving for the support of missions. There is the most imperative need of united action in the support of our foreign mission work. During the past year, the offerings to foreign missions aggregated $144,712.20. This was an average per capita of $1.77 for the entire year. Could we make our offering even double that amount, it would be only $3.54, which would bring into the treasury of the General Conference in the neighborhood of $289,420.
However, the General Conference believed that the State conferences should endeavor to raise for foreign missions, throughout the entire year, as much as ten cents per capita each week. If every Sabbath-keeper in the denomination would give as much as ten cents a week for foreign missions, there would be placed in the treasury of the Lord each year $424,949.20.
During its last session, the General Conference recommended that “our conference laborers and church officers keep constantly before all our people the importance of the weekly offerings for missions, and that we put forth a united effort to raise the offerings for missions from all sources to an amount averaging at least ten cents a week per capita.”
To attain this desirable end, the General Conference made the following recommendations concerning offerings:—
“(a) That the second Sabbath in each month be set apart by all our people everywhere, as ‘Missionary day’ for the special consideration of our missions.
“(b) That the General Conference Committee appoint a committee to prepare readings for each Missionary day, with a program and suitable songs for the occasion; that the readings be so divided that where convenient two or three can take part in the service, thus breaking up the monotony.
“(c) That each one to take part in this service, make a study of the field considered, that he may be able to make the subject of special interest.
“(d) That a map of the world be provided, so that the different fields may be located, thus educating our people regarding the extent and progress of the message.
“(e) That the Sabbath-schools be encouraged to participate in these exercises, that thus the interest of the children may be enlisted in the work of foreign missions.”
Now, if this is done the coming year, it will be done through the united efforts of every Seventh-day Adventist in our land. A few may put forth great efforts to accomplish this, but they can not succeed alone. To succeed, it must be taken hold of systematically and unitedly.
Surely, there is no place in the world where this plan should be taken hold of with greater diligence and zeal than right here in Washington. There is no reason why the churches in the District shall not set an example to our people throughout the world for liberality in giving.
The work here has received great help from our people scattered throughout the world. This has been impressed on our minds through the generosity of our people in helping build up the enterprises here in Washington in connection with the General Conference work. Why should not the District and church officers take this matter up, and endeavor to carry out the recommendations of the General Conference? Is it not possible for us right here in the District to carry on such a systematic plan of giving as will place our churches here in the lead in the matter of giving, and besides the tithe, average ten cents a week per member for missions?
I believe that if each one would be faithful unto God in giving, each week setting apart an offering for the work in other lands, the Lord’s rich blessing would rest upon us, and upon our work in this District. Our church elders and treasurers must lead out in this work. Week by week these offerings must be taken up, and mention must be made of them from time to time in the Sabbath-schools, and in the regular services of the day. Thus, by united effort, each doing what he can, we may greatly increase our tithes and offerings for the Lord.
Let us lay the matter of the support of the Lord’s work before the Lord, both in public and in private, in our devotional exercises. Can we not pray the Lord to raise up men and means, and give us all liberal hearts to support his work from Sabbath to Sabbath?
In stimulating our people to give to the support of missions, I believe there is no better way than for the Sabbath-schools to weekly take up the study of some mission field, calling the children’s attention to the place on the map, giving a brief synopsis or history of the work being done in the respective fields, thus encouraging our people to take more interest in the work in distant lands.
Again: I believe we should take hold of our second-Sabbath readings, and make something out of them that will give us a new impetus. Let our second-Sabbath services be devoted to the consideration of the topic prepared for that day. If some one has something to say and is full of inspiration, he can speak if he chooses. If not, I believe we ought to take up the study of the second-Sabbath reading as outlined and prepared by the Mission Board, and make everything out of the day we possibly can. This should not be done simply in our churches throughout the country, but here in the District. Our churches here should be examples to the other churches scattered throughout the world, and we must ourselves take hold of this thing, and co-operate in every possible way in carrying out the plans recommended by the General Conference.
In closing, let me suggest that we who are here to-day be faithful to every trust committed to our care. Let us do the things that we wish others to do; and though the way may often seem thorny, faith in God will do much to overcome all impediments. A sympathetic co-operation, and an unyielding faith in our great Leader, will do much to accomplish the work so much needed to be done.