Sabbath Contributions by L. H. Ellis; N. Battin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1879

Sabbath Contributions.

By L. H. Ellis; N. Battin

The minds of some “conscientious” ones are greatly exercised in reference to the lawfulness of making offerings upon the Sabbath; hence the penny contribution adopted by most of our Sabbath-schools is strenuously opposed by such. We therefore deem it proper to offer a few arguments in support of this custom.

The question to be decided is simply this, Is an offering made for the support of the Lord’s work lawful upon the Sabbath day? The proper decision of this question involves an examination of the Sabbath law with reference to what is forbidden and what is not forbidden. All must concede that absolute rest is not necessary to the proper observance of the Sabbath. It is duty to exercise faith upon the Sabbath; and as faith without works is dead, some class of works must be lawful also.

Let us then inquire what works are forbidden, and then ascertain if offerings come under that head. The commandment simply forbids our work. “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.” The prophet Isaiah describes proper Sabbath observance in the following language: “Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” Isa. 58:13. From these passages it must be evident to every candid mind that the Sabbath law prohibits all work that is ours, while it permits labor for the Lord.

It remains to be decided, then, whether giving for the support of God’s cause is to be placed under the head of our work or the Lord’s work. It seems that no one need mistake here. Giving for the support of the Lord’s cause is just as much a part of his work as preaching the gospel. We can just as reasonably exclude one from the Sabbath as the other. One way to honor God is to observe his holy Sabbath. Isa. 58:13. Another way is to honor him with our means. Prov. 3:9. How appropriate to bring these two together.

Paul mentions giving in 2 Cor. 8, and calls it a grace or gift (verse 6, see margin), and classes it with faith, and utterance, and knowledge, all diligence, and love to the ministry. Verse 7. Are not all these things lawful upon the Sabbath? Then why is not the grace or gift of giving, which is classed among them, also right? Again, the apostle declares that it proves the sincerity of our love. Verse 8. Certainly it is eminently proper, as we appear before the Lord upon the Sabbath, to present the proof of the sincerity of our love or worship.

The apostle, in Rom. 12, classes giving liberally with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In verse 6 we read, “Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given unto us.” He then mentions prophecy, the ministry, teaching, exhortation, and liberal giving. Verse 8. (See margin.) Is it not proper to exercise any one of these gifts upon the Sabbath? If it is right to prophesy, minister, teach or exhort upon the Sabbath, the unavoidable conclusion is that liberal giving is also right.

There is such a thing as being over particular about the observance of the Sabbath. The Jews blundered here, and were continually charging the Saviour with Sabbath-breaking. He could not heal a poor sick man without being charged with violating the Sabbath. Do not those who condemn the exercise of one of Christ’s graces, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the Sabbath, display about the same quality of conscientiousness as the hypocritical Pharisee who denounced the Saviour for healing the sick?

We place the penny contribution box before the child, inviting it to bring its little offering every Sabbath. This it cheerfully performs, thus developing and strengthening the principle of benevolence in its heart from Sabbath to Sabbath. Dear brethren, are you not carrying your criticism a little too far against this practice? Would it not be well, before opposing almost the entire body, to search the word of God and find something with which to sustain your objections? Please bear in mind that every advance move of this body has been opposed earnestly by some, and invariably represented as a step toward Babylon, yet time has proved that the move was an advance one. So we believe it will be in this case. We believe the objections to this custom are founded more on prejudice than on any plain testimony of the Bible.

L. H. Ellis. N. Battin.