The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Our Financial Responsibility

Another of the privileges of church membership is the support of the work of God. This involves contributions, some of which are obligatory and some voluntary. The Bible terms these two aspects of worship in giving as “tithes and offerings.” The payment of tithes is a direct command of the Lord. It was so with Israel of old; it is so with the Israel of God today. The tithing principle antedates the Levitical priestly service; before ever there was a Jew the tithing principle was recognized by the patriarchs. This was so with Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20); it was so also with Jacob, as we read in Genesis 28:22. An interesting and illuminating feature of this subject is that the Melchizedek priesthood is infinitely older than the Levitical. Our blessed Lord is a priest, but not after the order of Aaron; He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The Levitical priesthood was temporary; men could not “continue by reason of death” (Hebrews 7:23); the Melchizedek priesthood is an order that has “the power of an endless life” (verse 16); Melchizedek was “made like unto the Son of God,” and “abides a priest continually” (verse 3). The Greek word rendered “continually” is rendered “for ever” in Hebrews 10:12, 14. Today we live not under the Levitical priesthood; that is gone; it was part of what was abolished at the cross of Calvary. We live, thank God, under the Melchizedek priesthood, with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the great high priest. Christ the Lord as our Melchizedek in the sanctuary in heaven “continues ever” (Hebrews 7:24); of Him “it is witnessed that he lives” (verse 8), and lives forevermore. BSPC 190.3

As the tithing principle was practiced under the Melchizedek priesthood in bygone days, so it is part of our privilege and responsibility today. With Jesus as our great high priest over the household of God, we bring our tithes to Him. This is no burden, for in our new relationship to Him we love Him and experience joy and gladness that comes in the payment of our tithes. BSPC 190.4

The bringing in of both tithes and offerings is also an act of worship; it is just as much an act of worship as the singing of songs of praise or the bringing of our petitions to the throne of grace When we worship the Lord with our gifts or offerings, we bring to Him an expression of our love and devotion. Our offerings are our gifts; our tithes are not gifts; they are already His, for He claims them as His own. “The tithe is the Lord’s.” After we have rendered to the Lord His own, we are then privileged to bring what might be called our own out of the nine tenths that remain. It is from this portion that we make our gifts. Here is a real test of our love and consecration to the Lord. BSPC 191.1

We are counseled by the apostle Paul to give as the Lord has prospered us. (1 Corinthians 16:2.) It seems that although this matter is left with each one individually, we are nevertheless to bring to the Lord an adequate proportion of our earnings. Liberality in our giving is something very pleasing to the Lord. BSPC 191.2

Giving to the cause of God, and especially to the work in mission lands, reacts in rich and abundant blessings to our own hearts. Many years ago C. H. Spurgeon remarked, “Your love has a broken wing if it cannot cross the ocean.” Chalmers, the great missionary, once said, “Missionary giving affects the home church, not so much by exhaustion as by fermentation.” BSPC 191.3

When the minister for God makes an appeal for offerings or for faithfulness in the payment of tithes, let us not murmur or complain. Remember, he is but doing his duty as a faithful shepherd of the flock. The shepherd in the days of old not only led the flock, not only safeguarded their interests, not only fed them, but also sheared the sheep. This was just as necessary for their comfort as it was that he feed them. Might this not represent one phase of the work of the minister of God. BSPC 191.4