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Tithes and Offerings

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 26, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 33.

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Tithes and Offerings.

THE WAITING POSITION.

(Lesson 10, September 7, 1889.)
1. WHAT will the Lord's people exclaim when he comes?
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isa. 25:9.
2. Will they know that Christ's coming is near?
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:32, 33.
3. Will they know the exact time of Christ's coming?
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is." Mark 13:32, 33.
4. How does Christ describe those waiting for him to come?
"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning." Luke 12:35.
5. Describe the circumstances from which this figure was drawn?
"And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Lord." Ex. 12:11, 12.
6. Can such a position be held without others knowing it?
7. How are those described who do not receive these truths?
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night." 1 Thess. 5:6, 7.
8. What special instruction does the Saviour give to his people in view of his soon coming?
"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." Luke 12:35, 36.
9. After hearing these things, what did Peter want to know?
"Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?" Verse 41.
10. How does Christ reply?
"And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?" Verse 42. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" Matt. 24:45.
11. Who are here referred to as stewards?
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10.
12. What is the position of the steward?
"And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem." 1 Chron. 28:1.
13. What is the evil servant represented as saying and doing?
"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken." Luke 12:45.
14. What is it to beat the men-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken? See note.
15. Are these unfaithful stewards represented as unbelievers?
"And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 24:51. "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." Luke 12:46.
16. In what does their sin consist?
17. Will there be a difference in the punishment?
"And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Verses 47, 48.
18. What solemn lesson do we learn from this when applied to those who have so great light as shines from God's word at the present day?