Review and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 51. (12/17/1901)

Review and Herald

Dec 17, 1901

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 17, 1901

“BRING AN OFFERING UNTO THE LORD.”

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

“Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God.”

We need to realize the importance of consecrating our talents to God. We should give ourselves to Him, soul, body, and spirit, to do His will. Our talents are not our own; they are but lent to us; and they are to be sacredly employed in God’s service. Let us not trifle with the responsibility of using them wisely. God will require them again at our hands.

In the parable of the talents, Christ has plainly declared the use He expects us to make of our endowments. “The kingdom of heaven,” the Saviour said, “is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

Read carefully the record of the use made of these talents. The one who had received five talents, and the one who had received two, put their money out to usury, and on the return of their master, they were able to give back to him the principal and interest. These servants were equally commended. To each the master said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

The servant who had received one talent did not appreciate the gift, but bound up his talent, and hid it in the earth. He did no good with that which his lord gave him. With murmuring and complaining he came to his lord, saying, “Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” His lord answered and said unto him, “Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

Christ has made for us a complete offering, an offering without defect or blemish. Let us make an offering of whole-hearted service to God. Let us bring our money to God as a thank offering for what He has done for us, even as the wise men brought to Christ their offerings of gold and frankincense and myrrh. As we do our best, making our gift proportionate to our ability to give, God will accept our offering. Remember the offering that Christ made,—the offering of himself to a life of suffering, humiliation, and shame, in order to save a world perishing in sin. Had not this offering been made, we must have perished. How much do we owe to Him who gave His life for us? As we look upon the self-sacrifice of Christ, do not the sacrifices we are called upon to make for Him sink into insignificance?

Christ has compassion upon fallen man. He places himself in his stead, to suffer the penalty of transgression. Thus He has made it possible for sinners to return to their allegiance, to take their place under the royal standard of the Prince of life. But many in the world are perishing in sin. Careless and worldly, they give no thought to God or to eternal realities. They are dishonest in dealing with God’s property. They love not the truth. They turn away from the righteousness of Christ to the beggarly elements of the world. They trample under their feet the precepts of God’s law, especially the Sabbath commandment. The heart of the Saviour is grieved by their conduct. He desires to save every soul whom He has purchased. Oh that men would understand this, and place themselves in connection with the great Master Workman, making willing sacrifices to save their fellow men!

Soon the Lord is coming to this earth with power and great glory. The work that we are to do is outlined in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Who is doing this work? Who is building the Lord’s altars? Who is preparing the people for the great day of the Lord? Now, just now, every one who claims to be a child of God should bring his means to the Lord’s treasury, that there may be a supply to draw from to supply His workers with facilities for entering new places to present the truth to those who have never heard it. From His storehouse God supplies all our necessities. Shall we be only consumers? Shall we not be producers, giving of our means that the truth may be presented to those who will accept the message, and in turn give back to God His own?

There is ever to be in the treasury of the Lord means to be used for enlarging the work, for entering new territory, and building sanctuaries where those who accept present truth may worship Him in the beauty of holiness. God calls upon His people to bring of their means, in tithes and freewill offerings, to Him, that His workers may have wherewith to establish memorials for Him in villages, towns, and cities. These memorials will constantly bear witness that after creating the world in six days, God gave the seventh day to His people as a day of rest, to be a sign between Him and them, that they might know that He is the Lord who sanctifies them.

We are not merely to receive God’s gifts. With a full sense of our accountability, we are to bring to Him a return, that His workers may carry His message from city to city and from country to country. God’s self-sacrificing workers must be provided with sufficient facilities to make their work a success. Let us not forget the work in foreign fields. The sight as it is presented to me is deplorable. There is great need of workers, and of facilities to enable the workers to do successful work.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” This earth is the Lord’s storehouse, from which we are ever drawing. He has provided fruits and grains and vegetables for our sustenance. For us He makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall. The whole human family, good and evil, are constantly drawing from God’s storehouse. It makes every difference with those so highly privileged how they receive the Lord’s gifts, and how they treat the contract the Lord has made with them. He has made them His almoners, directing them to draw from His storehouse, and then make a return to Him in gifts and offerings, “that there may be meat in mine house,” He says.

In the third chapter of Malachi is found the contract God has made with man. Here the Lord specifies the part He will act in bestowing His great gifts on those who will make a faithful return to Him in tithes and offerings. To the selfish ones God says, “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.”

There is no time to lose. Let God’s people bring their offerings to Him, that they may worship Him with hearts full of rejoicing. Remember that God has imparted to you of His blessings, that you may have wherewith to give to Him. The Lord’s work is now languishing

because men do not realize the claims God has upon them. Our institutions in Europe are struggling under a burden of debt. The work of freeing these institutions from debt and embarrassment must be carried forward. They must not be left under a burden of debt.

Let the Lord see that His people are willing to make offerings of self-denial for the honor of His work; that they toil, not for selfish ends, but that under His prospering grace they may have wherewith to give to the objects in need of their help. Shall we not make an effort “to give to him that needeth”? Of what is there greater need than to release the Lord’s instrumentalities from debt, and establish them upon a solid basis?

Just now we need to make special effort to help the departments of God’s work which are in need of help. Those who are laboring in new fields should be encouraged to plant the standard in new places, to annex new territory for God. Camp-meetings are to be held in many places. Churches are to be raised up and organized. There is to be a pressing into new territory. Will not my brethren and sisters throughout the world consecrate themselves and their possessions to God? God help them to bring freewill offerings to Him who gave His only begotten Son to save them from eternal death! Let the believers in Christ deny self, take up the cross, and follow their Leader. Let them make decided efforts to place themselves under His discipline, to take His yoke upon them, and learn of Him. Those who do this will find rest unto their souls.

Let believers in the truth bring to God a faithful tithe. Let them bring Him peace offerings and thank offerings for the great love wherewith He hath loved them. Then there will be no dearth of means in His treasury.

How long shall the apathy remain that is upon the people of God? The words in the fifty-fourth chapter of Isaiah are for us: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shall not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.”

Our time for work is short. We have not a moment to lose. Let us do something for Christ, and do it now.

OPPORTUNITIES

By N. W. Vincent

N. W. VINCENT.

(Mound Valley, Kan.)

Probation's hour is yet our own, Until its blessed moments end; There comes to us from heaven a friend, Most beautiful from God's bright throne! With earnest look, with kindest tone, She whispers words of trust and cheer; She tells us we to God are dear, That Jesus' blood will still atone; That we in Christ may be complete, Our sins and faults all washed away, As we repent, believe, obey, In loving worship at His feet. Welcome, blest Friend, to you and me! Hail, present Opportunity!

WHAT SHALL I TITHE?

By A. R. Ogden

A. R. OGDEN. (Valparaiso, Chile.)

JACOB said, “Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Gen. 28:22.

Many who pay faithfully a tithe of that which they themselves earn are sometimes troubled to know what to do when something falls into their hands as a gift or by inheritance,—something which they themselves have not actually earned.

The scripture quoted would seem to make it clear: “Of ALL that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” The cattle upon a thousand hills, all the gold and silver, are His, everything that comes to us is from God. “Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.” Deut. 8:18.

Whether it is earned by actual labor or comes by inheritance or gift, it is the Lord who gives it. Therefore He asks for recognition by our rendering to Him His own—the tithe. It is to be used in support of His work. If we are willing to give the Lord a tenth of that which we earn by hard labor, how much more willingly we should render to Him a tenth of that which comes to us in an easier manner. We suggest the reading of the following scriptures on the tithing question: Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:8-11; Matt. 23:23; 1 Cor. 10:31; Prov. 3:6.

THE GOSPEL TO EVERY NATION, AND KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE.

By Isaac Morrison

ELDER ISAAC MORRISON. (Santa Rosa, Cal.)

NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD.

1. Did God make all nations upon the earth, and make them of one blood?

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” Acts 17: 26.

2. Then does the Lord respect persons in one nation more than in another?

“To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom. 2: 10, 11.

“I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10: 34, 35.

“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” 1 Peter 1: 17.

3. Should we, then, respect the people of one nation more than of another, or the rich and the great more than the poor and the unlearned?

“God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10: 28.

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? . . . If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2: 1–9.

4. Is the gospel commission to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt. 28: 19.

“Having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Rev. 14: 6.

5. Will every one who accepts the gospel in all the nations of the earth be saved?

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16: 15, 16.

6. Will even the eunuchs, the slaves, and the strangers who believe be saved?

“Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. . . . Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.” Isa. 56: 3–7.

7. Then was the temple intended for all people and nations?

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isa. 56: 7.

“He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?” Mark 11: 17.

“Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched-out arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house; hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.”—Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple, 1 Kings 8: 41–43.

8. Did the strangers in far countries, and even the colored people in Ethiopia, hear of the true God and His temple, and come to worship? did they accept the gospel? and did the Lord accept them?

“A man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him. . . . Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? and Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Acts 8: 27–39.

9. Does the Lord especially mention that the Ethiopians would seek after God?

“Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Ps. 68: 31.

10. Were some in ancient times exercised over the “color line”? and did they complain of those who respected the Ethiopians? and did the Lord rebuke them?

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. . . . And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. . . . And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and He departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.” Num. 12: 1–10.

11. Then, as God “without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work,” what is our duty to every man with respect to his nationality and color?

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16: 15.

“Having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Rev. 14: 6.

12. As the Lord’s “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18: 36), and His people “are not of the world,” but He has chosen us “out of the world” (John 15: 19), and “hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1: 13), and henceforth “our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour” (Phil. 3: 20, 21, R. V.); as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11: 13; 1 Chron. 29: 15), would it not be in harmony with His will that we should leave the political affairs and offices of the nations of this world to those of the world, teaching those who accept the gospel, and thus transfer their citizenship to heaven, to respect the officers of the country in which they live, and to obey its laws that are not contrary to the laws of Heaven, leaving the political offices and issues to those to whom they belong?

“Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22: 21.

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to

whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Rom. 13: 7, 8.

“I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2: 14, 15.

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15: 19.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4: 4.

WEIGHTS

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

Weights are generally accounted as undesirable burdens. Sin is the weight which burdens our spirits and oppresses our souls. But we are entreated to lay aside the weight,—the sin which so easily besets us,—and to run with patience the race set before us. When David was about to fight the giant of Gath in the Valley of Elah, King Saul thought to do the young stripling great honor, as well as to render him a kindness, by putting the heavy armor of the king upon him. But the youth knew better than his royal master. The armor was bulky and heavy. He must be encumbered with no weights when he went to battle with the giant,—his only armor must be the protecting hand of Omnipotence. So we, when engaging in conflict with the giant Sin, need to put off every weight, and depend alone upon the shield of the Spirit.

But there is another kind of weight,—thank God,—the weight of glory. It is more mighty, more wonderful, more incomprehensible, than any other weight. The strongest adjectives in the language are summoned by the inspired writer as alone able fitly to describe this weight of glory.

Tell me, O thou man of God, before whose raptured eyes the vision of the glorified has passed, tell me, will the redeemed wear a crown of gold over there? Will a diadem of glory rest upon the immortal brow of the servants of Jesus? A weight of glory! What a strange word to use in connection with the word “glory”—a weight! Something vast and overwhelming. Ah, but the glory will be overwhelming. And how will this glory compare with anything of earth?

The answer of the inspired penman is that it will be “exceeding.” Yes; but has there been no glory that can compare with it in superlative grandeur? The glory of the kings of earth has, methinks, been termed “exceeding.” Is the glory of the redeemed to be like theirs? Like the notes of a mighty organ, I hear the answer rolling down the centuries: “The glory of heaven is far more exceeding.”

Ah, yes, but we are not yet satisfied. Earthly pomp and splendor and glory is so brief—so fading, so uncertain. The hand of the grim messenger but touches the brow with one of its chilling fingers, and the kingly vesture is exchanged for the shroud. The worm of corruption trails its loathsome body where but yesterday rested the coronet of the monarch. Will the glory of which you tell me, the reward promised to the saints of the Most High, fade and perish and come to naught like that of earth?

Listen, faithless questioner. The glory offered by the Most High to His children shall be exceeding, yea, far more exceeding; but best of all, it shall be eternal. No fading laurels there. The gold of that city shall not tarnish, the light of that country shall not grow dim. The twelve tremendous pearls of the twelve tremendous gates will never need burnishing. The glorious gems reposing in the jewel-casket of the King of the country, which He is reserving for His redeemed, will never lose their luster while the eternal ages roll away.

Sometimes we find ourselves longing, with foolish hearts, for the applause of men,—putting our trust in princes in whom there is no help. We forget our high calling, and seek to satisfy the hunger of our souls with the husks of worldly fame and emolument.

Awake, my soul! shall the glare of the baubles of earth eclipse thy sight and render thy vision dim for beholding the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which is thy promised inheritance? Like Esau, shall we sell our birth-right?

Let us oftener contemplate this “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Let us fix our eyes so steadfastly upon it that we shall become blind to the glitter of earth, and insensible to the allurements of sin.

Eye hath not seen the glories bright, O Church of God, laid up for thee,— The mansions fair, the gems of light, The golden fruitage of life's tree. Ear hath not heard nor heart conceived The hidden splendors of that place, But brighter than all else shall shine The glories of Emmanuel's face.

FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE.

By F. J. Richardson

Some Jamaican Sketches.

F. J. RICHARDSON. (Kingston, Jamaica.)

In the first chapters of Nehemiah we read that Sanballat and his colleagues took great pains to discourage the Jews from building the wall of Jerusalem, laying special stress on their being a feeble people. The same spirit has often been shown in this island, especially when our people were about to begin the erection of a church building. “You are too few and too poor, you cannot build a church,” is the argument. But the Jews, contrary to all the prophesyings, and to the great surprise of their enemies, did succeed in building the wall under very trying circumstances, because they sought the Lord for His blessing, and then went about the work with a determination to accomplish it. Even thus has it been in the building of some of the churches here. The following is one instance:—

In building the church at Swift River, the first step was to burn the lime. Two brethren began cutting the wood. The next day both came down with the fever, which swept through the district, lasting two months. Not one of the brethren escaped. They are all poor, and what little money they had was nearly consumed in paying doctors’ bills. The rain was almost continuous for months; yet, as soon as any of the brethren got up from the fever, and there was a lull in the storm, they would go to work on the kiln, although so weak they were scarcely able to handle the ax. They had barely recovered from the fever, and the weather had become a little more settled, when a hurricane destroyed their bananas, on which they had depended to raise the money for the church.

Opposition to their work was as determined as was Sanballat’s to Nehemiah. This was especially true of the ministers, who not only talked against them from the pulpit, but went from house to house threatening those who had taken hold of the truth, and bringing them up for trial before the church they had left, subjecting them at such times to taunt and ridicule before those present. At one time five ministers assembled, and counseled long together, devising a plan to stop the nefarious work. Nevertheless, the little band persevered, and in one year from the time they began, a good substantial building was completed and dedicated.

One sister did the washing three weeks for a family, for which she received the sum of one dollar. She gave it to Brother Enoch for the church, saying, “You must take it, or I shall be tempted to use it for myself and child, for I have nothing ahead even to eat.” He tried to dissuade her from giving all of it, but she persisted.

Brother W. J. Tanner related a circumstance in connection with the building of the church at Grove Town, which we give in his own words:—

“Brother — has given all his cash, as well as a kiln of lime and much time, to the church. At the same time he is denying himself in several ways. For instance, I found him one day sitting in the bush making his dinner on nothing but sugar cane.”

We read of the devotion of Paul, who, among many other persecutions, was five times subjected by angry mobs to the cruel lash, and still more cruel rods, until his back was lacerated and bleeding. And it must stir our hearts, when the same devotion and love for Jesus is seen in the person of a young and helpless girl, as is shown by the following circumstance, of which I recently learned from one of the young lady’s friends:—

At a series of meetings, a young lady about twenty years of age became interested, and when the invitation was given for those who had decided to obey to come forward, she with others did so. As soon as her parents heard of it, they told her she must give up that silly nonsense, and strictly forbade her attending any more meetings. But the seed sown had taken root. When the next Sabbath came, she attended services. While there, she received word that her father awaited her return, with whips to flog her. Instead of going home, she went to her grandmother’s, and from there wrote her father, telling him that she must obey the Lord at whatever cost. He sent for her to come home, which she did, and told her that she should neither leave home nor keep the Sabbath. But she continued to slip away and attend the meetings. One Sabbath, on returning, her father flogged her until her body was badly bruised, then struck her several blows in the face, declaring he would compel her to give up the Sabbath.

Some of her friends advised her to leave home, but she told them that she had always been at home, and did not understand the ways of the world; and, she said, “Perhaps if I remain at home, I may be the means of winning father and mother yet to this good way.” So it has gone on. After a fierce outburst of anger, usually ending with a terrible flogging for the poor girl, there would be a respite for a little time.

One year and four months have passed, and the conditions remain unchanged. How much longer is the poor girl to be tried? Will she hold out; or will tired nature give way, and the enemy triumph? God only knows. We are praying that she may be faithful.

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