p. 894 | Importance of Tithing and the Promptness Needed

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 18, 1913

Importance of Tithing and the Promptness Needed

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

Providing funds for the sacred cause of God brings a divine consideration into all the business that a Christian does. The tithing question makes God a partner with man in all legitimate things. Therefore a Christian cannot follow a business that God cannot bless, neither can he in conscience take anything out of his business without accounting for it to God, because God is his partner.

From these considerations we know that a man cannot spend his time in idleness and be clear before God. His eating, his sleeping, his resting, and his working should all be talked over with the Lord, for he asks to be consulted and to be honored, and especially so since the interests of his cause are either forwarded or retarded according to the course men pursue in business.

God's people cannot be unfaithful now and at the same time carry the gospel quickly to all the world. Indeed, nothing short of a whole-souled, earnest devotion to all the varied interests of a world-wide message will suffice to accomplish the work that must be done.

The Scriptures teach and reason says that man's service in the support of God's cause should correspond to the light that shines upon his way. Jesus says, “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Luke 12:48. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt. 10:8. A man's soul, like a lamp, is lighted to shine for the benefit of many. And when much truth is given to a man, that man is placed under great responsibility to others who need the truth which has been committed to him. Should he fail in passing it on to others who might be saved by it, he cannot long retain it in his own heart. The apostle was writing to encourage liberal giving and soul-winning work when he said, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6.

Since God ordained the tithe of man's income to be the financial support of gospel work, it is the Lord's sacred money reserved by him for the most sacred purpose known under heaven; and the man who uses it for secular purposes is charged by the Lord with robbing the treasury of heaven. It must be very grievous in the sight of God to see a professed Christian actually take money which Heaven decreed should be invested in soul-winning work, and use it in the ordinary affairs of life, leaving the unsaved to perish without the light of life. But many do it. They permit covetousness to control their souls, then rob the Lord and lose their hope of heaven. Their love for money crucifies their love for saving souls, and makes them doubt every promise written in the Bible. But the Christian who cultivates a spirit of hearty liberality in gospel finance, will find the very windows of heaven opened to him, and showers of blessings coming down like an avalanche from glory, until his largest measures are full and running over. Then it will come to pass that instead of asking to be excused from tithing and from giving, he will see ways and means to multiply these benefits so as to meet every call that the widening cause shall make.

When to Pay

Any one entrusted with conference or mission interests knows how important it is to have funds at hand to settle bills or to pay salaries when due. Business principles require promptness, but if funds are long withheld, it is impossible for the treasury department to be prompt.

The conference is to pay the salary to workers as often as once a month, and to settle accounts for purchases made when the bills are presented; but this cannot be done if tithes and other funds are held back. It is very embarrassing to have salaries due and no tithes on hand to pay them, or business accounts piling up and no money to cancel them. Canvassers, solicitors, and donors should forward funds without delay; and tithe-payers should turn in their holdings not less frequently than once a month. Those receiving a salary from the conference are not able to wait long for their money, therefore the tithe should be paid into the church treasury at the earliest opportunity, and then forwarded to the conference office in time for the laborer to receive it at the beginning of each month.

Christian Ambassadorship

Speaking to Christians, Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Phil. 3:20, R. V. So it appears that the business of the Christian in this world is to look after the interests of God's kingdom here and not to benefit self. He is entrusted with the chiefest of heaven's work, and so should promote those things which strengthen the kingdom of heaven. He is an ambassador sent by the authority of heaven into this world to look after the interests that heaven is promoting here. The tithes and the offerings which get into his hands belong to the kingdom that sent him on his divine and royal mission, and he should not dare to use any of heaven's funds for his own selfish ends. If an ambassador sent from some European kingdom into our country

should get into possession of money belonging to the kingdom that sent him, and should proceed to purchase stocks and lands in this country with it for himself, what would his kingdom do about it? Would he still be regarded as an honorable and loyal ambassador for the kingdom that sent him? The reader knows he would not; yet his conduct would in that case be no worse than the conduct of the man who selfishly uses the tithes and offerings which belong to the Lord's cause. Can the man who takes holy funds from God's work to build up his own business continue to hold his heavenly citizenship, and also be an honored ambassador for God's cause? God in his Word says that men who take these funds from his cause are robbing him. They are asked to return to the treasury what they have taken away, and bring with it a trespass-offering, as a confession of their sin in doing the deed. Who will do it?