Message of Christian Stewardship
221
be with them. Even if the church is composed mostly of poor brethren,
the subject of systematic benevolence should be thoroughly explained,
and the plan heartily adopted. God is able to fulfill His promises. His
resources are infinite, and He employs them all in accomplishing His
will. And when He sees a faithful performance of duty in the payment
of the tithes, He often, in His wise providence, opens ways whereby it
shall increase. He who follows God’s arrangement in the little that has
been given him, will receive the same returns as he who bestows of
his abundance.—
Gospel Workers, 222, 223
(1915).
Test of Heavenly Fellowship—Our heavenly Father bestows gifts
and solicits a portion back, that He may test us whether we are worthy
to have the gift of everlasting life.—
Testimonies For The Church
3:408
(1875).
A Point to Be Presented Tactfully and Repeatedly—Teachers
of the Word of God are not to keep back any part of the counsel of
God, lest the people shall be ignorant of their duty, and not understand
what is the will of God concerning them, and stumble and fall into
perdition....
Let no one neglect to give faithful and plain instruction upon tithing.
Let there be instruction as to giving to the Lord that which He claims
as His own; for the commendation of the Lord will not rest upon a
people who rob Him in tithes and offerings. There will be need of
often setting before the people their duty on this matter that they may
render unto God His own. Let the one who first presents the truth be
faithful in presenting this matter and let him also who follows up the
interest also make plain the requirement of God on tithing, that the
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people may see that in all points the laborers are teaching the same
truth and are of one mind in urging them to yield obedience to all the
requirements of God.
But let laborers have discretion and not give strong meat to those
who are babes; feed them with the sincere milk of the Word. In no
case mingle your own spirit and ideas with the truth and cover up the
precepts of God by traditions or suppositions. Let the people have the
truth as it is in Jesus.—
Manuscript 39, 1895
.
A Neglected Work—We are to give the message of warning to the
world, and how are we doing our work? Are you, brethren, preaching
that part of the truth that pleases the people, while other parts of the
work are left incomplete? Will it be necessary for someone to follow