Tithes and Offerings by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 23, 1872

Tithes and Offerings.

By H. F. Phelps

Perhaps there are very few among us who do not feel to acknowledge the propriety of the plan of Systematic Benevolence, by which means are raised with which to advance the cause of God, and fewer still would be willing to dispute the hand of God being in the work of bringing his people up to this system. But what is the grand object to be gained? Is God dependent upon us for means with which to carry forward his work? Surely not. “The beasts of the forest are mine,” says God, “and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Were it in his plan, he could rain gold and silver from Heaven with which to sustain his work. He is not dependent upon the small sum we might give. But it is for our own good, that he requires us to give to sustain or to help in the great work of saving sinners. To some, God has given talents of mental ability; to others, talents of means; and each will have to give an account to God for his stewardship. The plan of Systematic Benevolence is one by which all may share in the work. The selfish and greedy are not eased while the more liberal are burdened; but all may share alike, according to the several ability of each. And where it is carried out as it should be, it is a perfect plan. It is a test, a weekly test. I may know each week whether I am overcoming my selfishness or not. But there are those who do not carry it out according to its design, and are thus in a position to lose the blessing it is designed to bring, and are adopting a course which is certainly bringing upon themselves the frown of God, and unless they repent, will eventually bring upon them the just sentence, “Take from him the talent, and give to him that hath ten.” This system is founded upon the word of God, and what God has set his seal to will surely stand; and if man, no matter how high his profession, fails to obey, he must soon meet its just penalty. Abraham, the father of the faithful, paid tithes. Jacob vowed to pay a tenth of all that God gave him, if he was prospered and returned in peace. It was a statute in Israel. They were required to give a tenth of all, and it must be the very best. God would not accept a lame offering. God gave the bounties of earth to the children of men, but how far they come short of using it according to the first design. We share liberally in these bounties, but the tenth of our increase God never gave to us. “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s, it is holy unto the Lord.” Lev. 27:30.

God gave to man the six working days, but the seventh day he reserved to himself, and whoever takes the seventh day and appropriates it to his own selfish purposes, robs God of the time which he set apart as his own, and upon which we are to worship him. So God has given to us the bounties of earth, but the tenth of the increase he has reserved to himself. He says it is holy. And if we lay our unholy hands upon it, and appropriate it to our own use, we rob God of that which belongs to him. We have no right to it whatever. Hear the words of the prophet. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” You see God calls it robbing him when we take that which he calls his own. And more than this, he calls for offerings, freewill offerings. And why is this? Let us see. The tithe of the increase calls for no sacrifice. Did you think you were sacrificing if you gave a tenth of the increase? You do not, for the principal remains untouched; and not only so, but it is on the increase all the time. The plan of S. B. supposes your property to be out at ten per cent, and you give a tithe or one per cent. Thus you are adding nine per cent to your property every year. How soon do you suppose you will have your treasure transferred to Heaven, at this rate?

Now we are fast approaching the closing scenes of this world’s history, and the very last day must come very soon. The instruction of our Master is, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven,” “Provide bags that wax not old.” Now we can make, and it is our privilege to make, a transfer of what God has given us here, to the bank of the New Jerusalem. We may exchange the few rods or acres of this sin-cursed earth for an interest in Abraham’s farm. There our treasure will be safe from the fires of the last day. Soon it will be said, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you.” And oh! if our treasures are only secure there, how safe we shall feel.

What can we say to those who vow to God and do not pay. They feel that they must do something for the cause of God. Well-meaning souls, they may be; but they pledge, and that is the last of it. They have put down their property to the full amount. They do not wish to cheat the Lord; but in an evil moment, they stopped to listen to the voice of the tempter. They had money, but oh! says the devil to them (he came as an angel of light), charity begins at home. Your wife needs a dress, John a pair of shoes, Nelly a bonnet, and then there are your taxes, they must be paid. Thus he talks, and our brother listens. Soon the money is all gone. Self, Cæsar, and family, have it, and the Lord is left with only a promise to pay next time; but next time comes, and it is worse than ever before perhaps, for how can the Lord safely bless the man, who does not keep his promise.

But what shall we say to those who profess to come up to the plan, but like Ananias and Sapphira come with a lie in their mouth. They profess to put down the full amount of their property, but were they offered their figures, they would not begin to take it. Now Bro. A. do not begin to say, How this will hit Bro. B.; for it is written for you; I am afraid so, at least. Now stop and consider. Such manifest so much selfishness that they never can get into the kingdom of God unless it is overcome. Heaven would be marred if they were taken in. And though their just recompense may seem to linger, it will come full soon enough. Would to God that such would repent before it is too late. Oh! that every one that has named the name of Christ would depart from all iniquity. But what shall I do, says one. Make a sacrifice, pay your vows to God, “have faith in God.” Believe the promise, “I will pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Do as the apostle says, “Lay by in store.” Take ten cents out of every dollar, or five out of every fifty. Give God what belongs to him. I will give the words of another upon this subject:

“In the arrangement of Systematic Benevolence, hearts will be tested and proved. It is a constant, living test. It brings one to understand his own heart, whether the truth or the love of the world predominates. Here is a test for the naturally selfish and covetous. They will put down their possessions at very low figures. Here they dissemble. Said the angel, ‘Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.’ Angels are watching the development of character, and the doings of such are carried to Heaven by the heavenly messengers. Some will be visited by God for these things, and their increase will be brought down to their figures. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.’ Prov 11:24, 25.”

Who can be saved? Who will fall by this test? May God save his people from the snare of the devil. Amen.

H. F. PHELPS.