p. 9 | Tithes and Offerings by William Covert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1902

Tithes and Offerings

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

Knowing that all should be mutually interested in the Lord's cause, I write concerning its progress. It is by exchanging ideas relative to it, that our interests are increased in its advancement. There are financial considerations connected with its upbuilding which must receive special attention at our hands. Our own good, and the good of the whole precious cause, are very materially affected by this question according to the manner in which we deal with it.

In speaking of this, the Lord says, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 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. 9:6, 7. We get good from the good which we do. In helping others, we are also helped.

The obligation of tithing, so strongly enjoined, bears within itself the fragrance of divine favor. But if the tithe is withheld from the cause of Christ, it becomes a curse to the one who retains it. The Lord's words through the prophet Malachi should be forcibly impressed

upon every soul. He does not speak in vain when he says, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3:7-10.

The charge against us is that we have robbed God in tithes and offerings. And yet we seem to think that we have done nothing wrong. We say to the Lord, “Wherein have we robbed thee?” The very question implies that we do not confess the sin to which the Lord calls our attention.

We long for the blessings promised in connection with the obedience required, but do not allow ourselves to stand up nobly and learn that which is indicated in the lesson enjoined. What sin has been committed? — God has been robbed. Who did it? — Those who claim to be his children. When? — From the days of the fathers until now. Are those who claim to be giving the last message of mercy to the world doing this? — Yes, they too, are guilty. Of what has the Lord been robbed? — Tithes and offerings. Probably not every one is guilty, but somebody has stolen the funds which the Lord intended to use in sending the gospel to the world. The money that was to have paid the traveling expenses of missionaries to different parts of the earth, and to have supported them there while they made known Jesus to our benighted brethren in heathen lands, has been taken. Money, too, has been retained which should have gone into the Lord's treasury in our conferences. A thousand million of our heathen brethren know not of the blessed Saviour. They are sleeping in their sins, and must soon perish in this lamentable condition unless we go to their rescue.

Our Father in heaven cries out that he is robbed of his sacred funds, and calls upon us to return that which we have taken from him. Please consider well the charge that he makes against us. Not only is the tithe taken and appropriated by us, but the offerings which have been sanctified unto the Lord are also used by ourselves.

There are specified offerings, such as the first fruits, the freewill offerings, thank offerings, etc., etc., which should be turned into the treasury or storehouse of the Lord. Let us inform ourselves on these matters, and perform the thing which is required without waiting longer. One writer has said of the present situation: “God's people are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the scantiness of their gifts and offerings, and the feebleness of their efforts in God's service, mark them as unfaithful. If the little that is now accomplished were the best they could do, they would not be under condemnation; but with their resources they could do much more. They know, and the world knows, that they have to a great degree lost the spirit of self-denial and cross-bearing.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, pages 445, 446.

Our people will sometime come up to the help of the Lord, and make it possible to do that which has been called for so long. Shall the cherished desires for a complete work be realized soon? Shall the angels bear the welcome news up to heaven that a whole people has been found who are full of faith, and whose works bear witness to their profession?