Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 15—A Question of Honesty
A close, selfish spirit seems to prevent men from giving to God His own. The Lord made a special covenant with men, that if they would regularly set apart the portion designated for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, the Lord would bless them abundantly, so that there would not be room to receive His gifts. But if men withhold that which belongs to God, the Lord plainly declares, “Ye are cursed with a curse.” ... {CS 77.1}
Those who realize their dependence upon God, will feel that they must be honest with their fellow men, and, above all, they must be honest with God, from whom come all the blessings of life. The evasion of the positive commands of God concerning tithes and offerings, is registered in the books of heaven as robbery toward Him. {CS 77.2}
No man who is dishonest with God or with his fellow men can truly prosper. The most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, says, “Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Through the prophet Micah, the Lord again expresses His abhorrence of dishonesty: “Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances? ... Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.”—The Review and Herald, December 17, 1889. {CS 77.3}
Woe to the minister, preacher, pastor, etc. that takes God’s tithes and offerings for himself. Tithes and offerings belong to the church, and are not for the personal use of any single individual. Self-supporting ministries are to be self-funded through the labor of their own hands, as was Paul’s ministry, and or from donations. Donations are to be separate from tithes and offerings. Some who collect tithes but do not use the money collected to benefit the church and God’s work are deceiving church members. Instead, they use the tithe to drive in Cadillacs and maintain their lifestyle. They use divers measures and are an abomination to God. Woe unto them that steal from God’s treasury.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We thank You for loving all Your children. For the opportunity given to all to do what is right in Your sight. We pray for those who are being dishonest to You and the church brethren. May they see the error in their ways, confess, and repent of their sins and abomination against You.
All come short of Your glory, and need Your forgiveness. We pray that we may all give what belongs to You that no one be cursed with a curse. May the tithe be used for the advancement of Your kingdom and not for personal use. May we be counted pure with a perfect and just weight. We thank and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
