The History and Use of the Tithe

Chapter 15—The Tithe for Those Who Labor in Word and Doctrine

In the late 1890s Ellen White on several occasions spoke of the remuneration of women in evangelistic work either in the sacred desk or in carrying the message from door to door: HUT 13.4

“A great work is to be done in our world, and every talent is to be used in accordance with righteous principles. If a woman is appointed by the Lord to do a certain work, her work is to be estimated according to its value. Every laborer is to receive his or her just due....

“Those who work earnestly and unselfishly, be they men or women, bring sheaves to the Master; and the souls converted by their labor will bring their tithes to the treasury.”—Evangelism, 491, 492.

The next year she wrote: HUT 13.5

“The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine be they men or women.”—Evangelism, 492.

As Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, came from the press in late 1900 it carried several strong appeals for the outreach of the work and the need of this being supported by the tithe. In the chapter on “School Management and Finance” she declared: HUT 13.6

“Our conferences look to the schools for educated and well-trained laborers, and they should give the schools a most hearty and intelligent support. Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the Word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money. This instruction was given long ago, and more recently it has been repeated again and again.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:215.

A full chapter was devoted to tithe and offerings entitled “Giving to God His Own,” stressing strongly our responsibility to support from the tithe those who carry the message of salvation to the world: HUT 13.7

“He [God] places His treasures in the hands of men, but requires that one-tenth shall be faithfully laid aside for His work. He requires this portion to be placed in His treasury. It is to be rendered to Him as His own; it is sacred and is to be used for sacred purposes, for the support of those who carry the message of salvation to all parts of the world. He reserves this portion, that means may ever be flowing into His treasure house and that the light of truth may be carried to those who are nigh and those who are afar off. By faithfully obeying this requirement we acknowledge that all belongs to God....

“God lays His hand upon all man’s possessions, saying: I am the owner of the universe, and these goods are Mine. The tithe you have withheld I reserve for the support of My servants in their work of opening the Scriptures to those who are in the regions of darkness, who do not understand My law. In using My reserve fund to gratify your own desires you have robbed souls of the light which I made provision for them to receive. You have had opportunity to show loyalty to Me, but you have not done this. You have robbed Me; you have stolen My reserve fund. ‘Ye are cursed with a curse’ (Malachi 3:9).”—Testimonies for the Church 6:386, 387.

And in her call for “Help for Mission Fields,” she specified that the tithe should be used in missionary work: HUT 14.1

“Every convert to the truth should be instructed in regard to the Lord’s requirement for tithes and offerings. As churches are raised up, this work must be taken hold of decidedly and carried forward in the spirit of Christ. All that men enjoy, they receive from the Lord’s great firm, and He is pleased to have His heritage enjoy His goods; but all who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel are to acknowledge their dependence upon God and their accountability to Him by returning to the treasury a certain portion as His own. This is to be invested in missionary work in fulfillment of the commission given to His disciples by the Son of God.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:447.

The decade preceding the issuance of Testimonies, vol. 6, had marked an important expansion in our school work. Colleges had been opened in Lincoln, Nebraska, Walla Walla, Washington, and Cooranbong, Australia. It is in volume 6 that we find the first clear-cut declaration concerning paying Bible teachers from the tithe: HUT 14.2

“The best ministerial talent should be employed in teaching the Bible in our schools. Those selected for this work need to be thorough Bible students and to have a deep Christian experience, and their salary should be paid from the tithe.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:134, 135.

The emphasis was to continue on a faithful stewardship of every church member: HUT 14.3

“If all would pay a faithful tithe and devote to the Lord the first fruits of their increase, there would be a full supply of funds for His work. But the law of God is not respected or obeyed, and this has brought a pressure of want.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:385.

The element of the care to be taken in the use of the tithe became more prominent and was to be intensified in the next decade—a decade of unprecedented expansion in the work of the church. HUT 14.4

By this time Sabbath school offerings were being taken up on a regular basis. The first was in 1878—the year of the revision of the tithe plan—and was used for local Sabbath school expense. In 1885 Sabbath schools made their first gifts to missions. In 1889 and 1890 the Sabbath schools provided funds for building the Pitcairn. By 1904 most Sabbath school offerings went for foreign missions. HUT 14.5