The Support of the Gospel
The Lord has made the proclamation of the gospel dependent upon
the labors and the voluntary gifts of all His people. The one who
proclaims the message of mercy to fallen men has another work also,—
to set before the people the duty of sustaining the work of God with
their means. He must teach them that a portion of their income belongs
to God, and is to be sacredly devoted to His work. This lesson he
should present by both precept and example; he should beware that he
does not by his own course lessen the force of his teaching.
That which has been set apart according to the Scriptures as be-
longing to the Lord, constitutes the revenue of the gospel, and is no
longer ours. It is no better than sacrilege for a man to take from God’s
treasury in order to serve himself or to serve others in their secular
business. Some have been at fault in diverting from the altar of God
that which has been especially dedicated to Him. All should regard
this matter in the right light. Let no one, when brought into a strait
place, take money consecrated to religious purposes, and use it for his
own advantage, soothing his conscience by saying that he will repay it
at some future time. Far better cut down the expenses to correspond
with the income, to restrict the wants and live within the means, than
to use the Lord’s money for secular purposes.
The Use of the Tithe
God has given special direction as to the use of the tithe. He does
not design that His work shall be crippled for want of means. That
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there may be no haphazard work and error, He has made our duty
on these points very plain. The portion that God has reserved for
Himself is not to be diverted to any other purpose than that which
He has specified. Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use
according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves
in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may
regard as the Lord’s work.
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