Giving to God His Own
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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.
And has not the Lord a right to demand this of us? Did He not give
His only-begotten Son because He loved us and desired to save us from
death? And shall not our gratitude offerings flow into His treasury to
be drawn therefrom to advance His kingdom in the earth? Since God
is the owner of all our goods, shall not gratitude to Him prompt us
to make freewill offerings and thank offerings, thus acknowledging
His ownership of soul, body, spirit, and property? Had God’s plan
been followed, means would now be flowing into His treasury; and
funds to enable ministers to enter new fields, and workers to unite with
ministers in lifting up the standard of truth in the dark places of the
earth, would be abundant.
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Without Excuse
It is a heaven-appointed plan that men should return to the Lord
His own; and this is so plainly stated that men and women have no
excuse for misunderstanding or evading the duties and responsibilities
God has laid upon them. Those who claim that they cannot see this
to be their duty, reveal to the heavenly universe, to the church, and to
the world that they do not want to see this plainly stated requirement.
They think that by following the Lord’s plan they would detract from
their own possessions. In the covetousness of their selfish souls they
desire to have the whole capital, both principal and interest, to use for
their own benefit.
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