A Test by C. R. Sparrow

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1905

A Test

By C. R. Sparrow

C. R. SPARROW

The Lord has given us abundant instruction, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Man will be left without excuse in this world, and will not be able to say, when he has to meet his God face to face, that he did not know; for the Bible gives all the instruction needed.

In reading the account of our first parents we find that the Lord put them in the garden of Eden. There he gave them all the privileges necessary to make them comfortable and happy. He also gave them all that they needed for food, the best they could have. But there in the garden he tested them to see whether or not they would obey him; and that test was in regard to the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

We find that the children of Israel had a test given them that has never been removed, and which will continue till the close of probation. Let us read what the Bible tells us concerning it: “And 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. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.” Lev. 27:30-34.

We also have a test put upon us by the Lord, to see if we are ready for that immortal state through our obedience to him. Brethren, have we ever read in the Bible that this test of giving tithes has been removed? If so, where? We have just read that the tithe is holy unto the Lord, also that it is the Lord’s. Not only the tenth of what we raise, but the tenth of our herds and of our stock is his; it is holy. Have we ever thought that this was a test laid on the children of Israel, and that they were required to keep it? Are we the children of Israel to-day? If so, has the Lord released us from this test? If the Bible does not give us a “Thus saith the Lord,” why do not we keep this command in obedience to the requirements of our Heavenly Father? Brethren, this will not pass, and we be without excuse.

Let us turn to Neh. 13:10: “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.” Here we see plainly that those who had the spiritual oversight of the work were farming to get a living, the treasury was empty, they could not live, so what was there to do but go and farm for a living? Had those who were not to wait on the spiritual necessities of the people paid their tithes and offerings, then the Levites would not have had to resort to farming, but would have had plenty to live on. The Lord has ordained that his “ministers” should have their needs supplied. So shall we not return to the Lord his own, that those who attend to the spiritual work may have that which is needed to support themselves, their families, and the cause of God? Why should it be said, when we come up to the conference meetings, that the treasury is empty?

When Hezekiah saw the condition of things in his day, that the priests and Levites were not getting what they ought, he commanded the people to give them “their portion” that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord. The record says that as soon as the commandment was given, the people brought in of the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil in abundance, also of the dates (margin), and the tithe of all things. And the children of Israel and Judah brought in “the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. . . . Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty [now take notice]: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” 2 Chron. 31:4-10. My fellow seekers after eternal life, if we want a blessing, let us do likewise.

Malachi says we are thieves; we have been stealing, the whole “nation” of us. What have we stolen?—“Tithes and offerings.” Is that true of the people who are looking for the Lord Jesus to come to take them from this earth?—Yes, we have been taking and keeping the tithes and offerings of the Lord. We expect blessings, but why do we not receive them? We have broken the eighth and sixth commands of the decalogue, and are cursed. In verse ten is given the invitation to bring in all the “tithes and offerings,” to see what the Lord will do for us. Brethren, let us accept this invitation, and prove the Lord, and see if he will not pour us out a greater blessing than ever we have had before. Come, let us prove the Lord.

About three years ago we were confronted with a dreadful disease which threatened to take off all the cattle in Rhodesia as far as it went. Many farmers and others who were using oxen for transportation purposes lost nearly every beast they had, some losing all. At that time I was greatly impressed that live stock should be tithed as well as other produce, so I called on the nearest elder, and asked him if he would come over and tithe the stock that I had. I had forty-two head of cattle, so four went out for the Lord; and two still remain waiting to be tithed with the next lot in the near future.

Now I must truthfully confess that there is not one farmer in Rhodesia whose stock has done better than ours. In the three years one calf died from starvation, it being very dry at that season of the year. But the rest have done exceedingly well, and it has paid to tithe the stock. The disease did not reach us, though a transport rider passed by my house with sixty-four oxen, some of them sick with the disease at the time, but no evil effects resulted from it. All I can say is, The Lord be praised.

If we turn the tithe of our stock into the Lord’s treasury, will there be any need of continually calling for means to carry on the work of the Lord? If we do that, then we can look up and expect Jesus to come quickly. Shall we not do it to hasten the coming of the Lord? We all want to get home, yet we are hindering by withholding from the Lord his own.

Rhodesia, B. C. A.