| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
THINK ELLEN G. WHITE, SPEAKING FOR GOD, DOESN'T: *Claim your tithe? *Call it an obligation? A requirement? An imperative? A duty? A law? A ìcontractî ìmade by Jesus Christ himself?î *Label you dishonest and a thief, accuse you of robbing God, and call a curse down on you if you donít pay? *Say, ìI would not risk the consequence of failing to pay? *Say it ìis binding upon God's people in these last days as truly as it was upon ancient Israelî? *Say, ìNo one can excuse himself from paying his tithes?î IF SO, YOUíD BETTER THINK AGAIN AFTER HEARING ELLEN G. WHITE: He [God] CLAIMS the TITHE as His own, and it should ever be regarded as a sacred reserve.... -- Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, page 300, paragraph 3. Chapter Title: The Lord's Vineyard ********* In the days of Israel the TITHE and freewill offerings were needed to maintain the ORDINANCES of divine service. Should the people of God give less in this age? The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings to God should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much REQUIRED." ... The work of the gospel ... makes the LAW of TITHES and offerings of even more urgent necessity now than under the Hebrew economy. -- Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 528, paragraph 4. Chapter Title: Tithes and Offerings ********* THEY [SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS] DID NOT AT THE OUTSET PERCEIVE THE FULL OBLIGATION OF THE TITHE, THE TENTH OF THE INCOME. NOW IN TWO ARTICLES, IN THE HEART OF TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH] VOLUME 3, THE BASIS OF RECKONING THE TITHE OBLIGATION WAS CLARIFIED AS THE MESSENGER OF THE LORD WROTE OF A "TENTH OF THE" "INCOME" AND OF THE "NINE TENTHS" WHICH REMAINED. -- Publisherís notation to Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church Volume Three, page 5-6. Chapter Title: THE TIMES OF VOLUME THREE. THE TIMES OF VOLUME THREE ********* ...God declares that he will abundantly bless those who are faithful in bringing him their TITHES and offerings, but that the CURSE of Heaven will rest upon those who are dishonest in this matter. God forbid that the CURSE of heaven should rest upon this congregation because of DISHONESTY toward the Lord. God forbid that any one of us should FAIL OF GAINING the precious boom of ETERNAL LIFE. Do not ROB God. --Ellen G. White, The General Conference Bulletin, April 8, 1901, paragraph 17. Article Title: Will a Man Rob God? ********* The special system of TITHING was founded upon a principle which is as enduring as the LAW of God.... -- Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, page 67, paragraph 3. Chapter Title: A Test of Loyalty. Subhead: Designed as a Great Blessing ********* The TITHING system reaches back beyond the days of Moses. 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. -- Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, page 69, paragraph 1. Chapter Title: Founded Upon Eternal Principles ********* If all would take the Scripture just as it reads, and open their hearts to understand the word of the Lord, they would not say, "I cannot see the TITHING question. I cannot see that in my circumstances I should pay TITHES." "Will a man ROB God?" The CONSEQUENCE of doing so is plainly stated, and I would not risk the CONSEQUENCE.... -- Ellen G. White, -- Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church, pp. 9, 10 [August, 1896]. Also: Counsels on Stewardship, page 92, paragraph 2. Chapter Title: Appropriating God's Reserve Funds ********* The OBLIGATION itself [TITHING] He does not set aside. ... The Jewish rulers recognized the OBLIGATION of TITHING, and this was right.... -- Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 616, paragraph 3. Chapter Title: Woes on the Pharisees ********* THE EVANGELIST MUST FINISH HIS INSTRUCTION [in the tithing requirement].--A laborer should never leave some portion of the work undone because it is not agreeable to perform, thinking that the minister coming next will do it for him. When this is the case, if a second minister follows the first, and presents the CLAIMS that God has upon His people, some draw back, saying, "The minister who brought us the truth did not mention these things." And they become offended because of the Word. Some refuse to accept the TITHING system; they turn away, and no longer walk with those who believe and love the truth. When other lines are opened before them, they answer, "It was not so taught us," and they hesitate to move forward. How much better it would have been if the first messenger of truth had faithfully and thoroughly educated these converts in regard to all essential matters, even if fewer had been added to the church under his labors. -- Ellen G. White, -- Gospel Workers, pp. 369, 370. (1915). Also: Evangelism, page 321, paragraph 1. Chapter Title: Clinching the Interest. Subhead: Binding Off Thoroughly ********* Have you confessed Christ by faithfully TITHING the mint, the anise, and the rue? When we give the Lord the TITHE, we are only giving Him that which is His own, to withhold which is THEFT and ROBBERY. -- Ellen G. White, Our High Calling, page 192, paragraph 4. Chapter Title: How Does Your Account Stand ********* If a Christian has ten or twenty thousand dollars, God's CLAIMS are IMPERATIVE upon him, not only to give his proportion according to the TITHING system, but to present his SIN OFFERINGS and thank offerings to God. -- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church Volume Four, page 467, paragraph 1. Chapter Title: Sacredness of Vows ********* The hearts of men become hardened through selfishness, and, like Ananias and Sapphira [who dropped dead], they are tempted to withhold part of the PRICE while pretending to come up to the RULES of TITHING. Will a man ROB God? -- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, page 150, paragraph 2. Chapter Title: Will a Man Rob God ********* A mere assent to the truth is not enough. There must be prayerful labor with those who embrace the truth, until they shall be convicted of their SINS and shall seek God and be converted. Then they should be INSTRUCTED in regard to the CLAIMS of God upon them in TITHES and offerings. They MUST learn that the TITHING system is BINDING upon God's people in these last days as truly as it was upon ancient Israel. -- Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, page 98, paragraph 2. Chapter Title: The Minister ********* The Lord has the first CLAIM upon all that we have. The means in our possession has been given to us in trust, and we hold it simply as the stewards of God's bounty. Many have made a mistake in withholding from the Lord that which he has plainly specified as his own. The TITHE of all that God has blessed you with, belongs to him; and you have ROBBED God when you have used it for your own enterprises. The Lord has not left the disposal of the TITHE to you, to be given or withheld as your inclination may dictate. He has placed the matter beyond all question, and there has been great neglect on the part of many of God's professed people to fulfill the REQUIREMENTS of his word in regard to TITHING. -- Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 17, 1889, paragraph 1. Article Title: The DUTY of Paying Tithes and Offerings ********* Let no one neglect to give faithful and plain INSTRUCTION upon TITHING. Let there be INSTRUCTION as to giving to the Lord that which He CLAIMS as His own, for the commendation of the Lord will not rest upon a people who ROB Him in TITHES and offerings. There will be need of often setting before the people their DUTY on this matter, that they may render unto God His own. Let the one who first presents the truth be faithful in presenting this matter, and let him who follows up the interest also make plain the REQUIREMENT of God on TITHING, that the people may see that in all points the laborers are teaching the same truth, and are of one mind in urging them to yield OBEDIENCE to all the REQUIREMENTS of God. -- Ellen G. White, Sermons and Talks Volume One, page 276, paragraph 2 Chapter Title: Walk in the Spirit ********* If all would take the Scripture just as it reads, and open their hearts to understand the word of the Lord, they would not say, "I cannot see the TITHING question. I cannot see that in my circumstances I should pay TITHES." "Will a man ROB God?" -- Ellen G. White, Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church, page 9, paragraph 1 ********* NO ONE can excuse himself from paying his TITHES and offerings to the Lord. -- Ellen G. White, Special on Tithing, page 20, paragraph 5. Faithful Record Possible. ********* This [tithing] is NOT A REQUEST of man; it is one of God's ORDINANCES, whereby his work may be sustained and carried on in the world. God help us to REPENT. -- Ellen G. White, Special on Tithing, page 20, paragraph 4 ********* The Lord will NOT hold GUILTLESS those who are deficient in doing the work that he REQUIRES at their hands ... and doing all their DUTY; in ALLOWING NO NEGLECT which will bring the THREATENED CURSE upon his people. A CURSE is pronounced upon all who withhold the TITHE from God. -- Ellen G. White, Special on Tithing, page 20, paragraph 3. Subhead: A Word to Ministers and Elders. ********* 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 he is to return to him the tenth of his possessions. God ... lays his hand upon the tenth, saying, "This is mine". ...man is to pay a faithful TITHE of all his substance. This distinct arrangement was made by Jesus Christ himself. -- Ellen G. White, Special on Tithing, page 5, paragraph 1. Subhead: Priority of God's Claims. ********* May God grant you wisdom as you prayerfully consider this counsel from Ellen G. White. Max of the Cross | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Also see: Testimony for the Church, Vol. 1, page 220, Chapter heading SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE. God Bless all, Denise (the berean) |
