Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940)
Chapter 12—Possessions as Well as Income to Be Tithed
As did Abraham, they are to pay tithe of all they possess and all they receive. A faithful tithe is the Lord’s portion. To withhold it is to rob God. Every man should freely and willingly and gladly bring tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord, because in so doing there is a blessing. There is no safety in withholding from God His own portion.—Manuscript 159, 1899. {CS 66.4}
God has asked us to prove Him, that if we bring all the tithes into His storehouse, that He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so large that there will not be room enough to receive it. However, as in the days of Abraham, Aaron, and the Levites, tithes and offerings were not just money. It was also the corn, new wine, oil, etc. for the house of God. God’s people were not to rely on the government, rather on the church to take care of God’s people. We should consider giving of all our possessions, including our time, to carry out the work that God has appointed for all to do. Return unto God what is His, and in so doing there is a blessing.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for this honor and privilege of being able to be co-workers with You in taking care of the church and Your people. There are many throughout the world that are in need, lacking the necessities in life. We pray that You will bless the portion we return unto You to further the plan of salvation, which You instituted for the benefit of humanity. We thank You for all Your provisions that we enjoy here on earth until we get to the mansion You have prepared for us in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Bless us and keep us faithful in returning Your portion. We thank You and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
