Use of the Tithe by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Use of the Tithe

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

In a recent issue of the REVIEW, Elder Daniells presented the amount of tithe voted to the General Conference Mission Board from union and State conferences during 1906. This tithe was a surplus in these treasuries, after the laborers in these home fields had been paid. The grand total amounted to over fifty-two thousand dollars. This is a splendid tribute to missions, every dollar of which goes to sustain laborers in foreign fields, the same as ministers at home are supported from the tithe. And this is as it should be.

That this plan is in harmony with the mind of the Lord, and that the home fields are encouraged thus to share their tithe in the support of fields in distant lands where no churches exist, the following from a special Testimony published not long ago, will show:—

“In some of the larger conferences the tithe may be more than sufficient to sustain the laborers now in the field. . . . These conferences should feel a burden for the regions beyond their own borders. There are missions to be sustained in fields where there are no churches and no tithes, and also where the believers are few, and the tithe limited. If you have means that is not needed after settling with your ministers in a liberal manner, send the Lord’s money to these destitute places. Special light on this point has been given. I was listening to the voice of the heavenly messenger, and the directions given were that the churches that had buildings and facilities should in this way [note the wording — sharing of their surplus tithe AS CONFERENCES to support ministers in mission fields] assist the missions in foreign countries.”

That responsibility rests upon all our churches in faithfully supporting the cause of God with tithes and offerings, and that if all are faithful at home, there will be no lack, is shown by the following:—

“If the members of the church exercise economy [the same economy manifested by the laborers themselves: ‘Our ministers should be dealt with in a fair, liberal, Christian manner, yet there should be no extravagance; economy must be practised; for the wants of the cause of God are many, and it must advance’] and self-denial in dress and in all their expenses, as God requires, there will be no lack of funds. The tithe will be increased, and there will be donations [apart from the tithe] sufficient for all church expenses.”

By these quotations it will be plainly seen that the plan of sharing our surplus tithe with the mission fields is a heaven-born one, and that God’s rich blessing will rest upon all those who manifest in this manner a practical interest in the work of God in the darker portions of his vineyard. But in doing it, it should ever be kept in mind that there is a right and a wrong way of rendering this assistance. It is not left with individuals to withhold their tithe from their own church treasury, sending it directly to some mission field, or even to the General Conference itself. This is disorganization. But the tithe having been paid over to the home treasury, when the conference officers, or delegates representing these home conference churches, vote a surplus to the general treasury, this is in harmony with every principle of thorough organization, and with such use of the tithe God is pleased, and will command his blessing to rest upon all who do it.

Takoma Park, D. C.