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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.
Remember the Poor
Every extravagance should be cut out of our lives, for the time
we have for work is short. All around us we see want and suffering.
Families are in need of food; little ones are crying for bread. The
houses of the poor lack proper furniture and bedding. Many live in
mere hovels which are almost destitute of conveniences. The cry of
the poor reaches to heaven. God sees; God hears. But many glorify
themselves. While their fellow men are poor and hungry, suffering for
want of food, they expend much on their tables and eat far more than
they require. What an account men will by and by have to render for
their selfish use of God’s money! Those who disregard the provision
God has made for the poor will find not only that they have robbed
their fellow men, but that in robbing them they have robbed God and
have embezzled His goods.
All Things Belong to God
All the good that man enjoys comes because of the mercy of God.
He is the great and bountiful Giver. His love is manifest to all in the
abundant provision made for man. He has given us probationary time
in which to form characters for the courts above. And it is not because
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He needs anything that He asks us to reserve a part of our possessions
for Him.
The Lord created every tree in Eden pleasant to the eyes and good
for food, and He bade Adam and Eve freely enjoy His bounties. But
He made one exception. Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they
were not to eat. This tree God reserved as a constant reminder of His
ownership of all. Thus He gave them opportunity to demonstrate their
faith and trust in Him by their perfect obedience to His requirements.
So it is with God’s claims upon us. He 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