Systematic Giving by E. K. SLADE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 20, 1913

Systematic Giving

By E. K. SLADE

Gospel Finance—No. 16

Systematic Giving

E. K. SLADE

GIVING for the advancement of the work of God in the earth should become a habit. It should become a part of one’s life by being brought into exercise frequently and regularly. A haphazard practise in this is out of harmony with the purpose in view. To respond with a gift only at such a time as a general meeting or when an urgent appeal is made and then let the remaining weeks and months of the year pass with little or no response is to fall far short of the benefit one should receive in character building. Such a practise also fails to provide the constant flow of funds needed for the work.

Properly carried out, the payment of tithes is based upon a system. The system is so perfect that it will provide sufficient funds to support the ministry as the work expands and develops if all believers will be true to the system. There is just as much need of a systematic practise in the payment of offerings. As a denomination we are making decided advancement in this line when we establish the practise of giving weekly for missions, whether it be ten, fifteen, or twenty cents, or more, a week. The frequent, constant, and habitual giving is doubly effective. It benefits the giver, which is of untold value, and it provides a largeness and a constancy to the stream of funds that could not be hoped for through the haphazard way.

Much instruction has been given on this question of systematic giving. We quote a few brief statements as follows:—

“The calls for means at our large camp-meetings have hitherto been attended with apparent good results as far as the wealthy are concerned. But we fear the result of a continued effort to thus replenish the treasury. We fear that there will be a reaction. Greater effort should be put forth by responsible men in the different churches to have all follow the plan of God’s arrangement. If systematic benevolence is carried out, the urgent calls at the camp-meetings for various enterprises will not be necessary.

. . . Do not wait until your imaginary wants are all satisfied. Do not trust to your feelings, and give when you feel like it. Give regularly, either ten, twenty, or fifty cents a week, as you would like to see upon the heavenly record in the day of God. . . . You should be daily adding to your heavenly treasure by doing the very work that the Lord has left you to do, and which he has entrusted you with means to carry out.”

That this practise of systematic weekly offerings prevailed in the early Christian church is clearly indicated by the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 16:1-3. The churches were instructed to adopt a system for raising funds that would prove effective and avoid any necessity for the servant of God to make a special effort in that line when he visited them. This record is given us as a guide to the church in this time. I am convinced that it will be pleasing to God and effective in advancing the spirituality of our churches and in hastening the world-wide work for every church and every isolated member to put into full practise that form of regular, systematic giving that will be constant and abundant without the necessity of special efforts and earnest appeals. Such gifts carry with them the sympathy and prayers of the giver.