Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 20—The Back Tithe is God’s Property
Many have long neglected to deal honestly with their Maker. Failing to lay aside the tithe weekly, they have let it accumulate, until it amounts to a large sum, and now they are very reluctant to make the matter right. This back tithe they keep, using it as their own. But it is God’s property, which they have refused to put into His treasury.—The Review and Herald, December 23, 1890. {CS 96.2}
Knowing how much you have held back from God’s treasury is the first debt to work on paying back. There are no banks in heaven that you can pay when and if you get there. This should be our first inclination, always make God first in our life. We have but a short time here on earth relative to spending eternity in heaven. Why not also receive the blessings here on earth as well as in heaven. The Bible tells us to store our treasures in heaven but if we return unto God what is His, He will bless you on earth as well. God honors those who honor Him.
Dear Father,
We thank You so much for providing for all our needs. Without Your help, we can do nothing. It is by Your grace that we can labor for our wages. Everything belongs to You, yet You only require a small portion to be returned to Your treasury in order to carry out the plan of salvation. We pray You bless these means, multiply them for Your service and help those in need. Help us to always deal honestly with Your property and to pay back our debt. Keep us faithful in our giving back what belongs to You. We thank and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
