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Blessing of Tithes and Offerings
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As the Israelites gathered at the tabernacle, loaded with the
firstfruits of field and orchard and vineyard, they made a public
acknowledgment of God’s goodness. When the priest accepted the
gift, the offerer said, “My father was a Syrian, about to perish;” and
he described the stay in Egypt and the affliction from which God
had delivered Israel. “‘He has brought us to this place and has given
us this land, “a land flowing with milk and honey;” and now, behold,
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I have brought the firstfruits of the land which You, O Lord, have
given me.’” (
Deuteronomy 26:5, 9, 10
).
The Secret of Prosperity
The wise man Solomon says, “There is one who scatters, yet
increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right,
but it leads to poverty.” (
Proverbs 11:24
). The apostle Paul teaches
the same lesson in the New Testament: “He who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. ... God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an
abundance for every good work.” (
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
).
God intended that Israel would be light bearers to all the earth.
The Lord has decreed that the spreading of light and truth in the earth
will depend on the witness and offerings of those who have received
the heavenly gift. He could have made angels the ambassadors of
His truth, but in His love and wisdom He invited men and women
to become co-workers with Himself, by choosing them to do this
work.
In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed
to maintain the divine service. Should the people of God in this
age give less? Christ laid down the principle that our offerings to
God should be in proportion to the light and privileges that are ours.
“Everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”
(
Luke 12:48
). “Freely you have received, freely give.” (
Matthew
10:8
). Since we have before us the matchless sacrifice of the glorious
Son of God, shouldn’t our gratitude reveal itself in more generous
gifts?
The work of the gospel, as it grows wider, requires greater finan-
cial support to support it than was called for anciently. This makes