Thoughts on the Tithe by F. H. Westphal

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1903

Thoughts on the Tithe

By F. H. Westphal

F. H. WESTPHAL

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse.”

A brother from Oklahoma takes exception to my report in the REVIEW, of the dedication of the church in Oklahoma. He wishes to know if only those who have sold their homesteads should pay tithe on the increase in their value. I did not intend that my article, or report, should give that impression. In fact, the tithe ought to be paid from year to year as the property increases in value. Those who keep their land, as well as those who sell, are under obligation to bring to the Lord the tenth part of all the increase. It was on my mind that those who have taken homesteads in Oklahoma, as well as those who took homesteads in Dakota, are under obligation to bring the tithe. I was speaking on the principle of the matter, but my words may seem to apply only to those who have sold their land in Dakota. It seems to me that if all within the territory I spoke of would bring the tithe of the increase in value of the land they own or have recently owned, there would not be much lacking of the ten thousand dollars tithe I spoke of. It might go considerably above that figure, yet it might fall below it. The principle is what I want to bring before our people. There may be a shadow of an excuse for some who have not sold their land, as they may not have the ready cash; but when the land is sold for cash, then they have the money in their hands, and there is no excuse. In most cases money has been secured from the land; but instead of bringing the Lord his own, more land has been bought. The newly bought lands, with that previously owned, increased in value, and an increase in money was realized as well, yet all the tithe was not brought, but more land was bought with the money that belonged to the Lord. This applies to our American brethren as well as to the German brethren.

The brother who wrote me tries to reduce the tithe to a small sum by deducting the expenses for breaking the land. Let me ask, Did they not realize a good crop of wheat generally for breaking? They reaped bread for themselves and their families, and an increase in money besides. They have built houses and bought cattle and horses. Here in North Dakota, where our people in that conference are gathered for a camp-meeting, I am told that people are looking for the privilege of breaking land and cultivating it for the crop for two years. When they have broken the land and cultivated it, furnished the seed, and harvested the crop, and hired it threshed, then they have made gain enough to support their families, and lay up money besides. They make no calculation on the land; for it belongs to some one else. I tell you, brethren, we are far behind on this tithing question. May the Lord help us to awake and bring the tithe on all our increase, not only on cattle, money, horses, and wheat, but on our lands and houses as well.