“THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS.”
By Frank Starr
These are the words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. Our Lord talked a great deal about giving, and Paul said we ought to remember his words; but many seem to have forgotten this gospel requirement, and some are surprised to learn that believers are required to give anything in this dispensation. They know that in the old dispensation liberal, systematic giving was required; but have the idea that that requirement ceased at the cross, where so many vainly imagine the Sabbath ceased also. Some think it wrong to apply passages of Scripture, as enforcing the tithing system now. Such proof is too far-fetched and irrelevant for them. But let us see how Paul applied the Scriptures in this matter. In Deut. 25:4, we read: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” I have often read the passage, stopping only to wonder at the liberal provision made for the ox. If oxen were threshing wheat, they must be allowed to eat that grain instead of being compelled to satisfy themselves with coarser grain or grass. But what application does the apostle make of this passage? He quotes it in 1 Cor. 9:9, 10, and says: “Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written.” In this chapter, Paul treats of the duty of the church to support the ministry. He says the Lord has ordained that they which preach the gospel shall live of the gospel. Paul makes an application of this requirement here in the Christian dispensation. And does he do it on his own responsibility? No. He says, “Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.” Surely we should not have understood the passage but for this inspired comment. The law, then, is adequate authority on this question of supporting the cause of God. Well, in the law, as well as in the prophets, the tithing system is strictly enforced. Lev. 27: 30-32; Mal. 3: 10. Says one, If I let my light shine in my own neighborhood, and warn my acquaintances, I shall do all that is required of me; the Lord does not want my money. Let us see if this will answer the requirement of Rev. 10:11, which we all admit applies to us. We are required to carry this message to many nations, tongues, and kings. If we do not fulfill this requirement, wanting will be found written against our names in the Judgment. Can we fulfill it, and confine our efforts to our own limited vicinity? By no means. Distant nations must be reached. But must each one learn some foreign tongue, and become an ambassador himself? This would be impossible. God has laid this burden on proper persons, and he has laid on us the burden of sustaining with our means these his servants, both in our own and foreign countries. Do we love this work, and are our prayers going up to God daily that he will send more laborers into the harvest? If so, can we be so inconsistent as to withhold the tithe which belongs to God, and thus hinder the success of his servants who are already in the field? “Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house.” The tired ox must not be left after his hard day's work to “pick his living.” That might be cheaper for his owner; perhaps nothing would bring him the cash so readily as the wheat of which his ox had been allowed to freely eat; but the ox that treadeth out the grain must not be stinted to a poor living. Surely the Lord meant that his servants should be liberally sustained, and he meant that we should make a sacrifice to sustain them. “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”