THE children of Israel were required to give a tithe, or tenth, of all their increase. See Lev. xxvii, 30–35; Num. xviii, 21, 24–32; Deut. xiv, 22–26, 28, 29; xxvi, 11–13; 2 Chron. xxxi, 5, 6; Neh. x, 38. And it cannot be supposed that the Lord requires less of his people when time is emphatically short, and a great work is to be accomplished in the use of their means in giving the last merciful message to the world.
Says the Prophet, Mal. iii, 8–10: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." It is time to cease robbing God, that we may receive the fulness of his blessing.
Who says that these "tithes and offerings" are merely speaking and praying in meeting? Away with such doubtful applications of Scripture. If the prophet Malachi is not here teaching the carrying out of the Israelitish system of tithing, he is certainly enforcing a duty of the same nature, and his words may come home to us with full force, and the principle be carried out by obedience to the language of Paul—"Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store," &c. Says our Lord, Luke xi, 42: "But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
This illustration shows how the accounts are kept with the use of the S. B. Blank Book. If the brethren give a tithe, or tenth, of their income, estimating their income at ten per cent on what they possess, it will amount to about two cents weekly on each $100 of property. Beside this, let all who are able to do, give a personal donation for each week, more or less, according to their ability. This is necessary to include those who have but little or no property, yet have ability to earn, and should give a share of their earnings. While some widows, or aged and infirm, should be excused from personal, the young and active who have but little or no property, should put down a liberal weekly, personal donation.