OFFERINGS by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 16, 1883

OFFERINGS

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

The Honor Due to God. No. 3.

We notice briefly, in passing, the object of the tithe, and to whom it should be paid. From the statement in Lev. 27:30, 'The tithe is the Lord's,' we would naturally gather that it is to be used in his service; and if used in his service it must, of course, be given to his servants. From the instances of its use that are recorded in the Bible, it seems to have been designed wholly for the support of the ministry. Abraham paid his tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. Under the Levitical law the tithe went for the support of the tribe of Levi, who were engaged in work pertaining to the sanctuary. They, in turn, were to devote a tenth of what they received in tithes, to the support of the priests. See Num. 18:20-26. 'All the tenth in Israel' is said to have been given to the tribe of Levi for an inheritance. The remaining nine-tenths was again tithed for charitable purposes. Num. 14:22-26; Deut. 26:12-14. This is additional evidence that the tithe was designed solely for the support of the ministry.

Whether or not a portion of the tithe might be appropriated to any other use than the support of the ministry, it is certain that the individual never disposed of his own tithe, further than to bring it to the treasury. When Nehemiah was restoring the worship of God, he cleansed the chambers of the temple, and brought in the holy vessels. Then he says:—

'And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries [margin, store-houses]. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, . . . . and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.' Neh. 13:10-13.

That the tithe is to be brought to one place, and distributed from thence, is proved by Mal. 3:10: 'Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house.' Every man is under solemn obligation to pay tithes, but no individual has any right to dispose of it according to his own notions. 'It is the Lord's.'

And right here we wish to emphasize the fact that, strictly speaking, we cannot 'give' a tithe. We cannot give what does not belong to us, and the tithe is the Lord's. Earthly Governments, in consideration of the protection they afford to the lives and property of their citizens, collect taxes for the support of their officers; but men do not speak of 'giving' their taxes, nor do they usually take credit to themselves for liberality, when they have paid them. In God's government the same plan exists. In return for the protection and many blessings that God bestows upon his creatures, he demands a tithe of all their increase, which may be considered as the taxes of his Government. But let it be distinctly understood that the church levies no tax; the tax is levied by God himself, nor does he compel men to pay. Each one must decide for himself whether or not he will thus honor God. There is no compulsion; but the punishment for dishonoring God in this regard, though delayed, is none the less sure.

It is evident from what we have just said, that a man can by no means be called liberal merely because he pays his tithe, no matter how great it may be. The wise man says, 'The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.' Prov. 11:25. Now while it is true that blessings will follow the strict payment of the tithe, it is clear that that is not what is meant here, for paying tithes is not liberality in any sense of the word. This brings us to a brief consideration of

OFFERINGS.

In addition to their tithes, the Israelites spent much in offerings. There were special offerings, such as sin-offerings, peace-offerings, and thank-offerings. The name of each of these is sufficiently descriptive. For the law in regard to them, see Lev. 4; 5; 7. The point to be remembered is that these sacrifices cost something, the cost varying with the wealth or position of the one making the offering. Those ancient Jews had no idea that a man could profess to be a religious man for a score of years, and yet contribute nothing to the cause. And they really seemed to think that there was something disreputable in dead-head worship, even when they could worship for nothing as well as not. When there was a plague upon Israel on account of David's sin in numbering the people, the prophet directed the king to 'rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.' Accordingly David went up, and was met by Araunah, to whom he told his errand. 'And Araunah said unto David, Let my Lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him; behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee.' 2 Sam. 24:22, 23.

Imagine now that you hear David say, How providential! Here is everything ready; I can worship God, and it won't cost me a farthing. But no; David had a better idea of what true worship is. 'And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price.' That, you say, was very natural; the king did not want to be under obligation to anybody. But it was not because he was averse to receiving a gift that he refused Araunah's offer; there was a principle involved. Here is his reason: 'Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.' And the result was that 'David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.'

We hear much about the superior privileges of the Christian dispensation; of the increased light that we enjoy. Very true; but do we realize the responsibility that these rich blessings bring? If the ancients had such exalted ideas of the sacredness and importance of the worship of God, what ought we to do? Do we appreciate the blessings that God is showering upon us without measure? Gratitude will show itself in a tangible form as well now as it would three thousand years ago. It is true that 'salvation is free,' but is it any freer now than it was then? Did the patriarchs and prophets buy their salvation with their tithes and offerings? Did not they obtain pardon for sin through Christ alone, as well as we? Most certainly. All that they could do or give would not purchase the pardon of a single sin, and this they knew; but they had a deep sense of the amazing love of God in holding out to them a free pardon through Christ, and their hearts overflowed with gratitude. Salvation is indeed free, but it has cost a price beyond the comprehension even

of angels, and when men begin to realize its value, they will not be anxious to avoid making sacrifices, but, with David, their cry will be, 'What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.'

E. J. W.