Offerings for the Support of God's Cause
By William Covert
The whole question of man's redemption is based upon the great offering made by Christ for sin, and the gospel of this offering must be carried to all mankind by continual sacrifices and offerings made by men. The tithe is to be invested in evangelistic work, while funds procured through offerings are to pay for meeting-houses, provide institutions, and defray such associated expenses as cannot be legitimately met from the tithe. Our people are almost a unit upon the subject of tithing, and they ought to be as well agreed upon the question of offerings as they are upon the matter of tithing. We know the tithe is designed to furnish the means and to equalize the financial burden of evangelistic work, so as to rest with equal weight upon each one. Why not then make our offerings upon the same principle of unity that we pay our tithes, and with the same frequency? We could do this according to the amount of funds to be raised for any specified5purpose. And if the per cent paid was according to the income of each member, the burden would then be equalized. If such a system should be generally adopted, it does not seem that any one would have a right to complain about it, for the poor would not have a large sum to raise, and the rich would have an abundance with which to pay their share. Let this income offering be sent to the treasury every time the individual pays his tithe, and the conference would always be supplied with funds for its essential work. There are many expenses to be met in caring for a conference that the tithe was never designed to cover; and if there were an adequate stream coming in in a regular flow, as the Lord's tithe comes to the conferences, then the conferences would have their tent and camp-meeting interests, their school work, their medical departments, their city missions with their multiplied demands, and all the many incidental expenses cared for. Since God works by order in all that he does, it follows that he has given advice in his Word which will apply to offerings as definitely as to tithes, and this advice should be sought out and heeded. In speaking of the offenses committed in financial matters he says to delinquents, “Ye have robbed me in tithes and offerings.” And then he calls upon all who are guilty to restore to his cause what they have taken or have withheld from it. The basis upon which God's people are to make their offerings is in proportion to the light and the blessings they receive from God. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt. 10:8. If God has given to us great light, then we owe to the world a great debt, for God has put us under obligation to give the light to all the world so far as he has given light to us. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7. But can God love niggardly giving and stingy offerings? The regulations for offerings in Israel which God proclaimed through Moses was that every male of the nation should appear before the Lord three times in the year, and when he went to the meeting the command was, “They shall not appear before the Lord empty: every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.” Deut. 16:16, 17. These offerings were made first at the season of the Passover; second, about fifty days later at the feast of weeks, or Pentecost; third, at the harvest ingathering about the middle of the seventh month, called the feast of tabernacles. In each of these gatherings there were the products of the land and of the labor of the people, which were offered, besides pledges or vows to be paid, and free-will offerings to be made. See Ex. 23:14-17; Lev. 23:10-44. Of course, it is not expected that God's people now will follow the routine laid down for ancient Israel, but the liberality of their offerings and the equalization of the burdens should furnish us a lesson which we would do well to imitate. Furthermore, the apostle Paul has adopted the principle of equalization in making offerings, and advised that it be done by “every one of you . . . as God hath prospered him.” 1 Cor. 16:2. But the apostle advised more frequent giving than anciently, for he counseled that it be laid aside weekly, so as to have it ready at any time when it might be called for. In a later communication to the same church he said that he had written to the churches as he did upon the subject of this offering on purpose that there might be an equality of the burden. “For,” he says, “if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want.” 2 Cor. 8:12-14. Herein is set forth by the apostle the principle of Christian giving for God's cause according to the income or prosperity of each member. It was to be a regular laying aside from week to week according to the prosperity of the member. The apostle explains the intention himself. He wanted all to give, but his intention was that the men of greater income might give accordingly, so as not to compel the poorer brethren to give more than their proportion. He wanted the income of each one to decide what that one could give; and this is right and equal for all, just the same as the tithing according to a man's income is equal for all. Then the needs of the cause should determine what the budget is to be, so that the leaders can adjust the amount according to the principle set forth. One reason assigned by Paul why he wanted the churches to adopt the method he advised for raising funds was that the financial business would be out of the way when he arrived. His desire was that “there be no gatherings” when he should come. I am sure that many of our ministers who have had the burden of raising funds among our churches can sympathize with the apostle in this matter. O, how often even the Sabbath services are largely devoted to raising money for some branch of the cause; or, if not on the Sabbath day, then a special time is appointed to solicit money when the time ought to be devoted to the real, vital needs of the church and the community. But it is encouraging to know that there is growing up a large-hearted liberality in offerings among our people, and may we not hope that soon plans will be devised to make the offerings for both home and foreign work as regular and strong as the tithe is for the evangelistic work? The ideal condition is sought after and advised by Malachi, and our earnest request should constantly be for the day to be hastened when the windows of heaven shall be opened and the spirit of faithful obedience fully manifested among God's remnant people.