LESSON 3 *January 14–20
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 14:18–20; Mal. 3:10;
Deut. 12:5–14; Lev. 27:30; 1 Kings 17:9–16; 1 Cor. 4:1, 2.
Memory Text: “ ‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the LORD
of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out
for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’ ”
(Malachi 3:10, NKJV).
In Genesis 14, Abram had returned from a successful hostage rescue
mission in which he had saved his nephew Lot, Lot’s family, and the
other people taken from Sodom. The king of Sodom was so grateful for
the rescue that he offered Abram all the spoils of the battle. Abram not only
refused the offer but also gave a tithe of all that he possessed to
Melchizedek.
Immediately after Abram’s tithing experience, the Lord said, “ ‘Do not
be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward’ ” (Gen.
15:1, NKJV). In effect, the Lord was telling Abram, “Don’t worry. I will be
your protector and provider.” Then, much later, Moses told Israel as they
were about to enter Canaan, “ ‘You shall truly tithe all the increase of your
grain that the field produces year by year . . . that you may learn to fear the
LORD your God always’ ” (Deut. 14:22, 23, NKJV).
Ellen G. White wrote: “Men were required to offer to God gifts for
religious purposes before the definite system was given to Moses, even as
far back as the days of Adam.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 393.
What does all this mean for us today?
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 21.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, January 14
Lesson 3 - The Tithing Contract
The Lord has given His people a message for this time. It is presented in
the third chapter of Malachi. How could the Lord present His
requirements in a clearer or more forcible manner than He has done in
this chapter?
All should remember that God’s claims upon us underlie every other
claim. He gives to us bountifully, and the contract which He has made
with man is that a tenth of his possessions shall be returned to God. The
Lord graciously entrusts to His stewards His treasures, but of the tenth He
says: This is Mine. Just in proportion as God has given His property to
man, so man is to return to God a faithful tithe of all his substance. This
distinct arrangement was made by Jesus Christ
Himself.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 6, p. 384.
All the good things we have are a loan from our Saviour. He has made
us stewards. Our smallest offerings, our humblest services, presented in
faith and love, may be consecrated gifts to win souls to the service of the
Master and to promote His glory. The interest and prosperity of Christ’s
kingdom should be paramount to every other consideration. Those who
make their pleasure and selfish interest the chief objects of their lives are
not faithful stewards.
Those who deny self to do others good, and who devote themselves and
all they have to Christ’s service, will realize the happiness which the
selfish man seeks for in vain. . . .
Christians forget that they are servants of the Master; that they
themselves, their time, and all that they have belong to
Him.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 3, pp. 397, 398.
While the people are looking for earthly good, Jesus points them to a
heavenly reward. But He does not place it all in the future life; it begins
here. The Lord appeared of old time to Abraham and said, “I am thy shield,
and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1. This is the reward of all
who follow Christ. Jehovah Immanuel—He “in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” in whom dwells “all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:3, 9)—to be brought into sympathy with
Him, to know Him, to possess Him, as the heart opens more and more to
receive His attributes; to know His love and power, to possess the
unsearchable riches of Christ, to comprehend more and more “what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of
God” (Ephesians 3:18, 19)—“this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah
54:17.—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
p. 34.
Every soul converted is to have the light in regard to the Lord’s
requirement for tithes and offerings. All that men enjoy they receive from
the Lord’s great farm, and He is pleased to have His heritage enjoy His
goods; but He has made a special contract with all who stand under the
bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel, that they may show their
dependence and accountability to God, by returning to His treasury a
certain portion as His own. This is to be invested in supporting the
missionary work which must be done to fulfill the commission given to
them by the Son of God just before He left His
disciples.—Evangelism, p. 249.
SUNDAY January 15
Tithe Equals a Tenth
Dictionaries define tithe as “a tenth part of something” or “10 percent.”
This definition is likely taken from the Bible narrative. Tithe is simply
returning 10 percent of our income, or increase, to God. We understand that
all we have belongs to Him in the first place. The tithing legislation given to
Israel at Mount Sinai points out that the tithe is holy and belongs to God
(see Lev. 27:30, 32). God asks only for His 10 percent. Our offerings of
gratitude are separate from and in addition to the tithe. The tithe is the
minimum testimony of our Christian commitment. Nowhere in the Bible do
we find any indication that God’s portion is less than a tenth.
Read Genesis 14:18–20 and Hebrews 7:1–9. What was Abram’s
response to meeting Melchizedek? What does this teach us about how
far back in history the practice goes?
* Your notes will not be saved!
The first mention of tithe in the Bible is in Genesis 14, which tells the
story of Melchizedek’s meeting with Abram. The last mention of tithe in the
Bible recalls the same encounter, but the words “tenth” and “tithe” are used
interchangeably (see Heb. 7:1–9). Note in the Hebrews story that neither
Melchizedek nor Christ were of the tribe of Levi, so tithing precedes and
follows the selection of the Levites. Tithing is not exclusively a Jewish
custom and did not originate with the Hebrews at Sinai.
Read Genesis 28:13, 14, 20–22. What did God promise to do for
Jacob, and what was Jacob’s response to God?
When Jacob left home, running from his angry brother, Esau, one night
he had a dream of a staircase that ascended from earth to heaven. Angels
were going up and down on it. And God stood at the top and promised to be
with Jacob and someday bring him back home. This single young man had
a real conversion experience and said, “ ‘The LORD shall be my God. . . .
And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You’ ” (Gen. 28:21,
22, NKJV).
Why is it important to understand that tithing, like the Sabbath, was
not something that originated in the ancient Israelite legal or even
religious system? What message should we, who live after the Cross,
take from this truth?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, January 15
Tithe Equals a Tenth
The tithing system did not originate with the Hebrews. From the
earliest times the Lord claimed a tithe as His, and this claim was
recognized and honored. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of
the most high God. Genesis 14:20. . . . As the Israelites were about to be
established as a nation, the law of tithing was reaffirmed as one of the
divinely ordained statutes upon obedience to which their prosperity
depended.
The system of tithes and offerings was intended to impress the minds of
men with a great truth—that God is the source of every blessing to His
creatures, and that to Him man’s gratitude is due for the good gifts of His
providence.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 525.
Jacob awoke from his sleep in the deep stillness of night. The shining
forms of his vision had disappeared. Only the dim outline of the lonely
hills, and above them the heavens bright with stars, now met his gaze. But
he had a solemn sense that God was with him. . . .
Jacob set up a memorial of God’s mercy, that whenever he should pass
that way he might tarry at this sacred spot to worship the Lord. And he
called the place Bethel, or the “house of God.” With deep gratitude he
repeated the promise that God’s presence would be with him; and then he
made the solemn vow, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this
way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that
I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my
God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and
of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.”
Jacob was not here seeking to make terms with God. The Lord had
already promised him prosperity, and this vow was the outflow of a heart
filled with gratitude for the assurance of God’s love and mercy. Jacob felt
that God had claims upon him which he must acknowledge, and that the
special tokens of divine favor granted him demanded a
return.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 187.
It is part of your work to teach those whom you bring into the truth to
bring the tithe into the storehouse as an acknowledgment of their
dependence on God. They should be fully enlightened as to their duty to
return to the Lord His own. The command to pay tithe is so plain that
there is no semblance of excuse for disregarding it. If you neglect to give
the new converts instruction on this point, you leave undone a most
important part of your work.—Letter 51, 1902.
“The tithe . . . is the Lord’s.” Here the same form of expression is
employed as in the law of the Sabbath. “The seventh day is the Sabbath of
the Lord thy God.” Exodus 20:10. God reserved to Himself a specified
portion of man’s time and of his means, and no man could, without guilt,
appropriate either for his own
interests.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 525.
MONDAY January 16
Where Is the Storehouse?
Read Malachi 3:10. What can we learn from this verse about where
our tithe should go?
Though specific directions are not given in the text, it is nevertheless
evident that God’s people knew what He meant by the word “storehouse.”
God does include in His directions, “ ‘that there may be food in My
house’ ” (NKJV). His people understood that God’s house initially was the
sanctuar y—the elaborate tent that was built by specific direction given to
Moses at Mount Sinai. Later when Israel lived in the Promised Land, the
central location was first in Shiloh and then more permanently at the temple
in Jerusalem.
Read Deuteronomy 12:5–14. These verses do not indicate that God’s
children could use their own discretion as to where their tithe was
deposited. What principles can we take from these verses for ourselves
today?
As members of God’s family, we want to understand and practice His
will regarding what to do with our tithe. In the biblical narrative, we learn
that three times each year—Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles
(Exod. 23:14–17)—God’s people were to travel to Jerusalem to bring their
tithes and offerings personally and to praise and to worship God. Then the
Levites distributed the tithe to their brethren all over the land of Israel (see
2 Chron. 31:11–21, Neh. 12:44–47, Neh. 13:8–14). In harmony with this
biblical central storehouse principle, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has
designated the local conferences, missions, and unions of churches as
storehouses on behalf of the world church and from which the ministry is
paid.
For the convenience of church members, tithes and offerings are brought
to the local church as part of the worship experience, though some use
online giving. The local treasurers then forward the tithe to the conference
storehouse. This system of tithe management, outlined and ordained by
God, has enabled the Seventh-day Adventist Church to have a worldwide
and growing impact in the world.
Imagine if everyone decided to give their tithe to whomever they
wanted to, at the expense of the Adventist Church itself. What would
happen to our church? Why is that practice, then, such a bad idea
and contrary to Scripture?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, January 16
Where Is the Storehouse?
Instruction has been given me that there is a withholding of the tithe
that should be faithfully brought into the Lord’s treasury for the support
of ministers and missionaries who are opening the Scriptures to the
people and working from house to house. The work of evangelizing the
world has been greatly hindered by personal selfishness. Some, even
among professing Christians, are unable to see that the work of the gospel
is to be supported by the means that Christ has given them. Money is
needed in order that the work done all over the world may be carried
forward. Thousands upon thousands are perishing in sin, and a lack of
means is hindering the proclamation of the truth that is to be carried to all
nations and kindreds and tongues and people. There are men ready to go
forth as the Lord’s messengers, but because of a lack of means in the
treasury they cannot be sent to the places where the people are begging
for someone to come and teach them the truth.
There are many in our world who are longing to hear the word of life.
But how can they hear without a preacher? And how can those sent to
teach them live without support? God would have the lives of His workers
carefully sustained. They are His property, and He is dishonored when
they are compelled to labor in a way that injures their health. He is
dishonored, also, when for lack of means workers cannot be sent to
destitute
fields.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 9, p. 52.
When men disregard the claims of God, plainly set before them, the
Lord permits them to follow their own way, and reap the fruit of their
doings. Whoever appropriates to his own use the portion that God has
reserved, is proving himself an unfaithful steward. He will lose not only
that which he has withheld from God, but also that which was committed
to him as his own.—“A Test of Gratitude and Loyalty,”
Review and Herald, February 4, 1902.
This matter of giving is not left to impulse. God has given us definite
instruction in regard to it. He has specified tithes and offerings as the
measure of our obligation. And He desires us to give regularly and
systematically. . . . Let each regularly examine his income, which is all a
blessing from God, and set apart the tithe as a separate fund, to be
sacredly the Lord’s. This fund should not in any case be devoted to any
other use; it is to be devoted solely to support the ministry of the gospel.
After the tithe is set apart, let gifts and offerings be apportioned, “as God
hath prospered” you. . . .
This message has lost none of its force. It is just as fresh in its
importance as God’s gifts are fresh and continual. There is no difficulty in
understanding our duty in the light of this message, given through God’s
holy prophet. We are not left to stumble along in darkness and
disobedience. The truth is plainly stated, and it can be clearly understood
by all who wish to be honest in the sight of God. A tithe of all our income
is the Lord’s. He lays His hand upon that portion which He has specified
that we shall return to Him, and says, I allow you to use My bounties after
you have laid aside the tenth, and have come before Me with gifts and
offerings.—Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 80, 82.
TUESDAY January 17
The Purpose of Tithing
Read Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21, 24. What does God
propose to do with the tithe?
Because God is the owner of everything (Ps. 24:1), He obviously
doesn’t need the money. But because the tithe is His, He tells us what to do
with it, and that is to use His tithe for the support of the gospel ministry.
And, therefore, the needs of the ministers are taken care of with God’s tithe.
The tribe of Levi—the ministerial force in the Old Testament—was not
given large properties, as were the rest of the tribes. Levi was given certain
cities, including the cities of refuge, with enough land around them for
personal gardens. They were supported by the tithes of the others, and they
themselves also tithed their income.
Read Acts 20:35. What’s the message here, and how does this relate
to the question of tithe?
Tithing is important because it helps us establish a relationship of trust
with God. To take one-tenth of your income and “give it away” (though,
technically, it belongs to God anyway) truly is an act of faith, and only by
exercising it will your faith grow.
Think, for instance, about the end times, too, when those who are
faithful cannot buy or sell, as depicted in Revelation 13, 14 (see lesson 11).
To have developed a trust in God and in His providences and power and
love will be of paramount importance when it seems as if all the world is
against us. Faithful tithing can surely help develop that trust. Even before
then, how crucial for all of us to have learned to trust God, regardless of our
situation.
A second big reason for financial faithfulness is to access the promised
tangible blessings of God. As part of the tithing contract, God has promised
blessings that are so large that we won’t have room enough to receive them.
With our surplus, we can help others and help to support the work of God
with our offerings.
In what ways have you experienced the great truth that it is, indeed,
“more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, January 17
The Purpose of Tithing
The payment of the tithe was but a part of God’s plan for the support of
His service. Numerous gifts and offerings were divinely specified. Under
the Jewish system the people were taught to cherish a spirit of liberality
both in sustaining the cause of God and in supplying the wants of the
needy. For special occasions there were freewill offerings. At the harvest
and the vintage, the first fruits of the field—corn, wine, and oil—were
consecrated as an offering to the Lord. The gleanings and the corners of
the field were reserved for the poor. The first fruits of the wool when the
sheep were shorn, of the grain when the wheat was threshed, were set
apart for God. So also were the first-born of all animals, and a redemption
price was paid for the first-born son. The first fruits were to be presented
before the Lord at the sanctuary and were then devoted to the use of the
priests.
By this system of benevolence the Lord sought to teach Israel that in
everything He must be first. Thus they were reminded that God was the
proprietor of their fields, their flocks, and their herds; that it was He who
sent them the sunshine and the rain that developed and ripened the
harvest. Everything that they possessed was His; they were but the
stewards of His
goods.—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 336, 337.
God has made men His stewards. The property which He has placed in
their hands is the means that He has provided for the spread of the gospel.
To those who prove themselves faithful stewards He will commit greater
trusts. Saith the Lord, “Them that honor Me I will honor.” 1 Samuel 2:30.
“God loveth a cheerful giver,” and when His people, with grateful hearts,
bring their gifts and offerings to Him, “not grudgingly, or of necessity,” His
blessing will attend them, as He has promised. [See Malachi
3:10].—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 529.
In proportion as the love of Christ fills our hearts and controls our
lives, covetousness, selfishness, and love of ease will be overcome, and it
will be our pleasure to do the will of Christ, whose servants we claim to
be. Our happiness will then be proportionate to our unselfish works,
prompted by the love of Christ.
Divine wisdom has appointed, in the plan of salvation, the law of
action and reaction, making the work of beneficence, in all its branches,
twice blessed. He that gives to the needy blesses others, and is blessed
himself in a still greater degree. God could have reached His object in
saving sinners without the aid of man; but He knew that man could not be
happy without acting a part in the great work in which he would be
cultivating self-denial and benevolence.
That man might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our
Redeemer formed the plan of enlisting him as His co-worker. By a chain of
circumstances which would call forth his charities, He bestows upon man
the best means of cultivating benevolence and keeps him habitually giving
to help the poor and to advance His
cause.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 382.
WEDNESDAY January 18
Tithing on the Gross or the Net Income?
We calculate our tithe on our “income” if we are paid by the hour or by a
salary, and we pay on our “increase” or profit if we are self-employed and
have our own business. In many countries, the government takes out taxes
from the worker’s pay to cover the cost of services done for the people,
such as security, roads and bridges, unemployment benefits, and so on. The
question of gross or net primarily involves whether we return tithe on our
income before or after such taxes are taken out. Those who are selfemployed
can legitimately deduct the cost of doing business in order to
determine their actual profit before their personal taxes are deducted.
Studies of membership’s giving habits reveal that the majority of
Seventh-day Adventists tithe on the gross income; that is, before taxes are
taken out. In fact, according to the Tithing Principles and Guidelines,
published by the General Conference in 1990, “Tithe should be computed
on the gross amount of a wage or salary earner's income before legally
required or other employee authorized deductions. This includes federal and
state income taxes which provide for services and other benefits of
responsible citizenship. Contributions to Social Security may be subtracted-
See Guideline 111-F.”—Page 22.
Read 1 Kings 17:9–16. What was the widow’s situation before Elijah
came to her? What did the prophet ask her to do first before taking
care of herself and her son? What can we learn from this account about
the question at hand?
The widow of Zarephath was told by God that a man of God was
coming to see her (1 Kings 17:9). When Elijah arrived, she explained her
dire circumstances. Elijah first asked for a drink of water and then added,
“Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it
first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your
son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be
used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on
the earth’ ” (1 Kings 17:13, 14, NKJV).
Was this selfishness on his part, or was he simply testing her faith—in
fact, allowing her to exercise her faith? The answer should be obvious.
As we have been told, “Everyone is to be his own assessor and is left to
give as he purposes in his heart.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 4, p. 469.
How do you explain to someone who has never given tithe the
blessings that come from giving it? What are those blessings, and how
does returning tithe strengthen your faith?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, January 18
“The Dead Know Nothing”
Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what
is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way. . . .
How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of
God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength
is ours. Whatever gift He promises, is in the promise itself. “The seed is the
word of God.” Luke 8:11. As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is
the gift of God in His promise. If we receive the promise, we have the
gift.—Education, p. 253.
“He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” Acts 17:25. The Lord
declares, “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand
hills.” Psalm 50:10. “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.” Haggai 2:8.
And it is God who gives men power to get wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18. As
an acknowledgment that all things came from Him, the Lord directed that
a portion of His bounty should be returned to Him in gifts and offerings to
sustain His
worship.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 525.
In the days of Elijah, Israel had departed from God. They clung to their
sins, and rejected the warnings of the Spirit through the Lord’s
messengers. Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which
God’s blessing could come to them. The Lord passed by the homes of
Israel, and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land, with a woman
who did not belong to the chosen people. But this woman was favored
because she had followed the light she had received, and her heart was
open to the greater light that God sent her through His
prophet.—The Desire of Ages, p. 238.
Wonderful was the hospitality shown to God’s prophet by this
Phoenician woman, and wonderfully were her faith and generosity
rewarded. “She, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel
of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word
of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah. And it came to pass after these
things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and
his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him. . . . And
[Elijah] said unto her, Give me thy son. . . . and [he] cried unto the Lord. . .
. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came
into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him
down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his
mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah,
Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the
Lord in thy mouth is truth.” Verses 15-24. . . .
“He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a
prophet’s reward.” Matthew
10:41.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 346.
THURSDAY January 19
An Honest or Faithful Tithe
Read 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2. As children of God and stewards of His
blessings, what kind of people are we asked to be?
So, what does it mean to be faithful with our tithe? This week we have
reviewed several of the constituent elements of the tithe:
1. The amount—which is a tenth, or 10 percent, of our income or
increase.
2. Taken to the storehouse—the place from which the gospel ministers
are paid.
3. Honoring God with the first part of our income.
4. Used for the right purpose—the support of the ministry.
It is our responsibility as church members to uphold the first three items;
it is the responsibility of the storehouse managers to make sure that the tithe
funds are used properly.
And, unlike our offerings, the tithe is not discretionary on our part. The
tenth and the storehouse are both part of our responsibility. We don’t set the
parameters; God does. If I don’t return a full 10 percent of my “increase,”
I’m not really tithing; and if I don’t bring that 10 percent to the
“storehouse,” I’m not really tithing either.
Read Matthew 25:19–21. When are we called upon to give an account
of our management of God’s funds? What is said to those who have
been financially faithful?
“ ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse’ (Malachi 3:10), is God’s
command. No appeal is made to gratitude or to generosity. This is a matter
of simple honesty. The tithe is the Lord’s; and He bids us return to Him that
which is His own.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 138. Managing for God
is a unique privilege—and a responsibility, as well. He blesses and sustains
us and asks for only a tenth, and then He uses His tithe to provide for those
in the ministry, as He did for the tribe of Levi during the time of ancient
Israel.
Some argue that they don’t like how their tithe money is used and,
hence, either don’t tithe or send their money somewhere else. Yet,
where did God say, “Bring the tithe to the storehouse, but only if you
are sure that the storehouse is using it right”?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, January 19
An Honest or Faithful Tithe
It is not God’s purpose that Christians, whose privileges far exceed
those of the Jewish nation, shall give less freely than they gave. “Unto
whomsoever much is given,” the Saviour declared, “of him shall be much
required.” Luke 12:48. The liberality required of the Hebrews was largely to
benefit their own nation; today the work of God extends over all the earth.
In the hands of His followers, Christ has placed the treasures of the gospel,
and upon them He has laid the responsibility of giving the glad tidings of
salvation to the world. Surely our obligations are much greater than were
those of ancient
Israel.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 337.
Every blessing bestowed upon us [calls] for a response to the Author
of all our mercies. The Christian should often review his past life and
recall with gratitude the precious deliverances that God has wrought for
him, supporting him in trial, opening ways before him when all seemed
dark and forbidding, refreshing him when ready to faint. He should
recognize all of them as evidences of the watchcare of heavenly angels. In
view of these innumerable blessings he should often ask, with subdued
and grateful heart, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits
toward me?” Psalm
116:12.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 187.
Let every steward understand that as he strives to advance the glory of
God in our world, whether he stands before infidels or princes, he is to
make God first and last and best in everything. The true Christian will
realize that he has a right to his name only as he uplifts Christ with a
steady, persevering, and ever-increasing force.
“It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians
4:2). When we are faithful in making God known, our impulses will be
under divine supervision, and we shall make steady growth, spiritually
and intellectually. But when men enter into a confederacy to exalt men,
and have little to say of God, they are weakness itself. God will leave those
who do not recognize Him in every effort made to uplift humanity. It is
Christ’s power alone that can restore broken-down human machinery.
Everywhere and in every place let those around you see that you give God
the glory. Let man be put in the shade, let God appear as the only hope of
the human race. Every man must rivet his building to the eternal Rock,
Christ Jesus; then it will stand amid storm and
tempest.—The Upward Look, p. 81.
God prepares the mind to recognize Him who alone can help the
striving, struggling soul. He will educate all who stand under His banner
to be faithful stewards of His grace. Man cannot show greater weakness
than by thinking he will find more acceptance in the sight of men if he
leaves God out of his assemblies. God must stand the highest. The wisdom
of the greatest man is foolishness with Him.
God has given to man immortal principles, to which every human
power must one day bow. We have truth that has been given us in trust.
The precious beams of this light are not to be hid under a bushel, but are
to give light to all that are in the house.— “Give Unto the Lord the Glory
Due Unto His Name,” Manuscript 21, March 8, 1899.
FRIDAY January 20
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White’s most comprehensive
tithe document in volume 9 of Testimonies for the Church, pp. 245–252.
Study Section III of Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 65–107.
“If all the tithes of our people flowed into the treasury of the Lord as
they should, such blessings would be received that gifts and offerings for
sacred purposes would be multiplied tenfold, and thus the channel between
God and man would be kept open.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 4, p. 474. This is an amazing statement. If we were all faithful
tithers, God would bless us with funds to increase our offerings 1,000
percent.
“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.”—Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,
December 17, 1901.
“All should remember that God’s claims upon us underlie every other
claim. He gives to us bountifully, and the contract which He has made with
man is that a tenth of his possessions shall be returned to God. The Lord
graciously entrusts to His stewards His treasures, but of the tenth He says:
This is Mine. Just in proportion as God has given His property to man, so
man is to return to God a faithful tithe of all his substance. This distinct
arrangement was made by Jesus Christ Himself.”—Ellen G. White,
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 384.
Discussion Questions:
-
1. Dwell more on this idea that the practice of tithing did not
originate in ancient Israel. How does this fact help us understand the
perpetuity of this obligation on our part before God?
-
2. In class, discuss the question posed at the end of Monday’s study.
Think of what would happen if people decided to send their tithe
somewhere else. What would happen to our church? Would we even
have a church? What’s wrong with the attitude that says, Well, my
tithe is so small in contrast to everything else, it doesn’t matter. What if
everyone thought like that?
-
3. Share with others what you have learned and experienced from
giving tithe. What can you teach others about the practice?
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, January 20
For Further Reading
Gospel Workers, “Effect of Receiving the Spirit,” pp. 287, 288;
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, “Faithful Stewardship,” pp. 245–252.
INSIDE STORY
Sabbath Test in Malawi
By SHERON NDHLOVU
A college in Malawi created consternation among Seventh-day
Adventist students by scheduling final exams on the seventh-day Sabbath.
Lucy was distressed. She and other Adventist students at the stateowned
Karonga Teachers Training College had received scholarships to
become teachers. But now their future seemed uncertain.
The Adventist students gathered to discuss their dilemma. The year was
2006. Malawi was facing a food shortage that had prompted the cashstrapped
government to ask state colleges to reduce the number of days that
students were on campus. As a result, Lucy’s college had moved up final
exams previously scheduled for Monday and Tuesday to Saturday.
The Adventists decided to ask the college to reconsider the day of the
exams, and several went to the director’s office. Their appeal was rejected.
Worsening matters, other students began to mock them over their beliefs.
Lucy watched in dismay as classmate after classmate bowed to the
pressure and agreed to take the exams on Sabbath. But she and three others
stood firm. They would honor the Lord of the Sabbath. They prayed and
went to the director’s office to appeal for a second time.
At the office, Lucy felt shamed and insulted. She was reminded that she
was privileged to have a state scholarship and told to study for the sake of
her children, whom she was raising after her husband’s recent death. The
humiliation did not change Lucy’s mind. She believed God would help.
The second appeal was rejected. Lucy and her three classmates kept on
praying, and they asked the district pastor to pray. The pastor spoke with the
president of the Adventist Church in Malawi, who, in turn, asked state
authorities to intercede. Adventists faced Sabbath exams across Malawi.
Abruptly, the college rescinded its decision and returned the exams to
their old schedule. The sudden change sowed confusion on campus, but all
the students and faculty knew one thing: The prayers of four faithful
Adventists had been answered in a powerful way. “God intervened,” said
Lucy Nyirenda, who passed the exams and became a teacher. “He has
promised that He will never forsake His own.”
Lucy loves to claim God’s promise in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong
and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your
God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake
you” (NKJV).
Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering that will support Adventist education in the East-
Central Africa Division this quarter, helping students attend educational institutions where they will
never have to take Sabbath exams.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
† Disclaimer: Contents of these lessons are not intended to be financial advice but is general commentary based on biblical principles. The reader is encouraged to seek competent professional advice which will suit their particular personal situation.
