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Counsels on Stewardship
“If we have sown unto you spiritual things,” the apostle further
inquired, “is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If
others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nev-
ertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we
should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they
which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the
Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the
gospel.”
1 Corinthians 9:7-14
.
The apostle here referred to the Lord’s plan for the maintenance of
the priests who ministered in the temple. Those who were set apart
to this holy office were supported by their brethren, to whom they
ministered spiritual blessings. “Verily they that are of the sons of Levi,
who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take
tithes of the people according to the law.”
Hebrews 7:5
. The tribe of
Levi was chosen by the Lord for the sacred offices pertaining to the
temple and the priesthood. Of the priest it was said, “The Lord thy
God hath chosen him ... to stand to minister in the name of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 18:5
. One tenth of all the increase was claimed by the
Lord as His own....
It was to this plan for the support of the ministry that Paul referred
when he said, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel should live of the gospel.” And later, in writing to Timothy,
[71]
the apostle said, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.”
1 Timothy
5:18
.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 335, 336
.
God’s Claim Upon Us
God has a claim on us and all that we have. His claim is paramount
to every other. And in acknowledgment of this claim, He bids us
render to Him a fixed proportion of all that He gives us. The tithe is
this specified portion. By the Lord’s direction it was consecrated to
Him in the earliest times....
When God delivered Israel from Egypt to be a special treasure
unto Himself, He taught them to devote a tithe of their possessions to
the service of the tabernacle. This was a special offering, for a special
work. All that remained of their property was God’s, and was to be
used to His glory. But the tithe was set apart for the support of those