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A Forsaken Ordinance

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 30, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 13.

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A Forsaken Ordinance

By H. W. Carr

H. W. CARR
“The world is mine, and the fulness thereof,” declares Jehovah; “the cattle upon a thousand hills.” And again: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine.” These are his both by right of creation and by right of redemption.
In Eden, God reserved to himself the tree of knowledge of good and evil; and man’s obedience to God’s command on this point was to determine his fitness to dwell in that paradise. But our first parents did not stand the test; they disobeyed, and they were driven from Eden.
Again, very anciently, the Lord reserved to himself a tenth part of the goods in man’s control, as a further test of his obedience. Tithing was an ordinance with Abraham, who recognized God’s ownership, and gave to his representative “tithes of all.” Gen. 14:20. From the record it is evident that this was not a new duty with Abraham. Paul tells us that if we are Christ’s, then are we Abraham’s seed (Gal. 3:29); and the Master declared, to those who claimed to be the children of Abraham: “If ye were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham.” John 8:39.
In Mal. 3:7 we read: “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.” The verses which follow tell plainly that the ordinances here mentioned are connected with the bringing of tithes and offerings to the Lord’s house. The expression, “From the days of your fathers,” seems to indicate that goods are in our possession upon which God’s ownership is not recognized. He says: “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” But if we do not return unto the Lord, and bring to him thatwhich is his, in tithes and offerings, the conclusion is that he will not return unto us.
How sad would it be, if, after observing the other ordinances of the Lord, which give us a place among his chosen and peculiar people, it should be found at last that some of us had failed upon this one point!
Salamanca, N. Y.