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Thou Triest the Heart

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 9.

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Thou Triest the Heart

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD
BEFORE his lost possessions are restored to man, he must be tried as a steward, and, as such, prove his faithfulness and loyalty to God. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matt. 25: 14, 15.
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. . . . And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” Luke 16: 10-12.
We now inquire, By what are we to be constantly led to a recognition of the fact that all we are and have is the Lord’s, and not our own? The Lord has reserved as holy unto himself one tenth of all the products of the earth. Christ claims a tithe of all man’s income, whether it is from the toil of brain or muscle, or from other sources. It is reserved by God as a test of our acknowledgment of Christ’s ownership of the world and all its resources. Christ places in our hands a means of income from various sources. This he denotes as “talents.” As stewards of his goods he asks every man, woman, and child to return sacredly one tenth of all to God. Those who refuse to do this he charges with the high-handed sin of robbery.
“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.” Lev. 27: 30-32. Some suppose that this plan of tithing belonged only to the Levitical priesthood, and that none but those living in that age were under obligation to pay tithe.
But the tithing system is co-existent with the gospel, and rests upon moral principles, the violation of which resulted in the fall of man. It is not confined to any one dispensation, but is of—

Universal Obligation

Look at a few facts which the Lord presents concerning the tithing question: Long before the Mosaic age, Abraham, the father of the faithful, paid to the priest of God a tithe of all his income. Gen. 14: 18-20; Heb. 7: 2. When Jacob became a converted man, he at once recognized Christ’s ownership, and vowed to pay a tithe of all unto God. Gen. 28: 20-22. In the Mosaic age the tithing of all of Israel’s income was sacredly observed. Lev. 27: 30; Num. 18: 21, 26.
God has given a commandment that those who preach the gospel shall be supported from the tithe. Heb. 7: 5, 8; 1 Cor. 9: 13, 14. Christ taught that the moral obligation rests upon all men to pay to God a tithe of all their income. Matt. 23: 23.
The awful curse of God is pronounced against those who do not pay a faithful tithe. Mal. 3: 9; Deut. 28: 15-26. The blessing of God rests upon those who bring into the Lord’s treasury the tithe. 2 Chron. 31: 4-10; Deut. 28: 1-13.
God has not changed his plan concerning the tithe; it is still a test of man’s recognition of Christ’s ownership of this world. Mal. 3: 6; Heb. 13: 7, 8.
The use of the tithe for other purposes than those prescribed by God is classed as a terrible sin. Mal. 3: 7-10.
When the tithe is withheld from its appointed use, not only is God robbed, but millions of perishing souls are robbed of the light of the gospel. Mal. 3: 10; Matt. 24: 44-47.
The sins of robbery and Sabbath-breaking have long stood in the way of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church. Mal. 3: 7-10; Isa. 58: 6-13.
Why should any one longer brave the curse of God, and stand as an Achan in the camp of Israel? O, arise, arise, and wash away thy guilt by repentance and confession of sin! Why longer grieve the Lord? He will graciously forgive and heal all thy backsliding. Mal. 3: 7; Isa. 1: 16-19; Hosea 14: 1-7.