Teaching Tithing Principles to New Members

1
Teaching Tithing Principles to New Members
By G. Edward Reid, Presenter
2

• People join the Adventist church from many
  different backgrounds and with various attitudes
  toward money. The following points will be
  helpful as you lead new members into a Biblical
  understanding of financial faithfulness.

3
Teaching Financial Faithfulness to
New Members

• 4 Important Points
• Emphasize Gods ownership as Creator.
• Ask new members to reflect on Gods goodness and
  mercy in their lives.
• Share the fact that Jesus had much to say on the
  topic of financial faithfulness.
• Explain how financial faithfulness relates to the
  gospel commission in the Seventh-day Adventist
  Church.

4

• Emphasize Gods ownership as Creator.

5
In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the
earth. Gen. 11
6
The Christian World View
The very first thing the Bible establishes about
God is that His is the Creator of heaven and
earth (Gen. 11), and this forms the foundation
for everything else the Bible says about Him,
about who we are, and about how we should relate
to Him. The phrase, heaven and earth indicates
totality and is in a sense the Hebrew way of
expressing what the Greeks communicated through
the term kosmos, the totality of the ordered
universe.
7
The Christian World View
Second, God as Creator of heaven and earth also
means that the totality of the cosmos belongs to
Him. In fact, one could say that at the very
core of cosmic harmony is the universal
acknowledgment that, since God is the only and
exclusive Creator, He is at the same time the
rightful owner. Within this world view, all
creatures are expected to perceive themselves and
their possessions as belonging to God, the
Creator.
8
The Christian World View
Third, God as the only Creator and Owner of the
universe has the exclusive right to receive honor
and glory from all of His creatures. He provides
meaning, orientation, and guidance to their
existence and they should respond to Him with
loving gratitude for their own existence and for
His blessings that constantly enrich their lives.
9
The Christian World View
Fourth, the blessing of Gods presence with us in
the midst of a world of sin and death reached its
most sublime expression in the life, work, and
death of Jesus Christ. In Him God came and dwelt
among us, assuring eternal redemption to those
who believe in Him. (John 33 316, 17)
10
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and
the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and
rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 2011 NKJV
11
All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made.
John 113 NKJV
12
David said, I will lift up mine eyes to the
hills from whence comes my help? My help comes
from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 1211, 2 NKJV
13
For behold I create new heavens and a new earth
and the former shall not be remembered or come to
mind. Isaiah 6517 NKJV
Nevertheless we, according to His promise look
for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 313 NKJV
14
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach
to those who dwell on the earth to every
nation, tribe, tongue and people saying with a
loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him, for
the hour of His judgment is come and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of
water. Revelation 146, 7 NKJV
15
The earth is the Lords, and all its fullness.
The world and those who dwell therein.
Ps. 241
16
If I were hungry, I would not tell you for the
world is Mine, and all its fullness. Ps. 5012
17
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise
thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my
people, that we should be able to offer so
willingly after this sort? for all things come of
thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
1 Chron. 2913, 14
18
The day is thine, the night also is thine thou
hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast
set all the borders of the earth thou hast made
summer and winter.
Ps. 741617
19
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever
thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Ps. 902
20

• Invite new members to reflect on Gods goodness
  and mercy in their own lives.

21

• Ponder Gods blessings to you in the following
  areas
• Food, shelter, clothing
• Health
• Employment
• Family / Friends
• Answered prayer
• Peace of mind through Jesus your Savior
• Other

22

• When we reflect on what God has done for us, we
  soon realize that His blessings are innumerable.
• Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

23
As Christ's followers give back to the Lord His
own, they are accumulating treasure which will be
theirs when they hear the words "Well done, thou
good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord." 9T 59
24
3. Share with new members that Christ
Himself had much to say in Scripture about
financial faithfulness.
25
The Sermon on the Mount Jesus famous
mountainside sermon Matthew 5,6 and 7 At the
heart of this sermon are the principles regarding
money management.
26

• Jesus Counsel Regarding
• Storing Treasure
• Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
  where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
  break in and steal. Matthew 619 NKJV
• But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
  where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
  thieves do not break in and steal.
• Matthew 620 NKJV
• For where your treasure is, there your heart
  will be also. Matthew 621 NKJV

27
Every opportunity to help a brother in need, or
to aid the cause of God in the spread of the
truth, is a pearl that you can send beforehand,
and deposit in the bank of heaven for safe
keeping. God is testing and proving you. He has
been giving His blessings to you with a lavish
hand, and is now watching to see what use you are
making of them, to see if you will help those who
need help, and if you will feel the worth of
souls, and do what you can with the means that He
has entrusted to you. Every such opportunity
improved adds to your heavenly treasure.-- Testimo
nies, vol. 3, pp. 249, 250.
28
When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he
must do to gain eternal life, Jesus said, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven. (Matthew 19, Mark
10, Luke 18)
29

• Think About It
• Do you follow what Jesus taught about storing up
  treasure in heaven to the rich young ruler?
• When we help others,
• we store up treasure in heaven.

30

• With a brief overview of these texts,
• an amazing truth emerges
• Its true that you cant take it with you, but
  you can send it on ahead!

31
When Christ's followers give back to the Lord
His own, they are accumulating treasure which
will be given to them when they shall hear the
words, Well done, good and faithful servant .
. . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The
Desire of Ages, p. 523
32

• Explain to new members how financial faithfulness
  relates to the Gospel Commission.

33
The Great Commission Then Jesus came and spoke to
them saying, All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
have commanded you and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age. Amen. Matthew
2818-20 NKJV
34

• The Tithe Principle

35
It is a simple as 1-2-3
36

• The tithe is holy and belongs to God.
• Lev. 2730 All the tithe of the landis the
  Lords. It is holy to the Lord.

37

• God asks me to return the tithe to the
  storehouse.
• Mal. 310 Bring all the tithes into the
  storehouse.
• Deut. 125, 6 But you shall seek the place
  where the Lord your God choosesThere you shall
  take your tithes.
• Num. 1821 I have given the children of Levi
  all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in
  exchange for the work which they perform, the
  work of the tabernacle of meeting.

38

• God has promised blessings to those who obey.
• Deut. 281, 2 If you diligently obey the
  voice of the Lord your God, to observe
  carefully all His commandmentsall these
  blessings shall come on you and overtake you.
• Prov. 39, 10 Honor the Lord with your
  possessions, and with the firstfruits of all
  your increase so your barns will be filled with
  plenty, and your vats will overflow with new
  wine.
• Mal. 310 Prove me now in this says the Lord
  of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows
  of heaven and pour out for you such blessing
  that there will not be room enough to receive
  it.

39
Tithing in the New Testament

• The New Testament does not reenact the law of
  the tithe, as it does not that of the Sabbath
  for the validity of both is assumed, and their
  deep spiritual import explained. . . . While we
  as a people are seeking faithfully to give to God
  the time which He has reserved as His own, shall
  we not also render to Him that portion of our
  means which He claims? (Counsels on Stewardship,
  p. 66)

40
Jesus Endorsed Tithing

• In Jesus lengthy condemnation of the Pharisees
  (Matthew 2313-36), He noted that they were
  meticulous about tithing even to the point of
  tithing small portions of herbs. He did not,
  however, criticize this practice but rather
  stated, These you ought to have done, without
  leaving the others undone (the weightier matters
  of justice, mercy, and faith) (vs. 23). It is
  clear from this passage that Jesus felt tithing
  was appropriate and right.

41

• In Lukes account, Jesus has accepted the
  invitation of a Pharisee for dinner. The
  Pharisee noted that Jesus had not washed His
  hands before eating. Jesus responded that the
  Pharisees were clean on the outside but on the
  inside were very wicked. Then Jesus gave a
  series of woes on the Pharisees. In one He
  stated, But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe
  mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by
  justice and the love of God. Then He added,
  These you ought to have done, without leaving
  the others undone (Luke 1142). It is
  interesting that in Jesus litany of woes on the
  Pharisees He commended them for their tithing.
  Jesus never rejected tithing, but rather
  condemned its misuse.

42
Pauls Support of Tithing

• Paul does not mention tithing in his epistles.
  However, he addressed the issue of providing for
  those who preach the gospel in an obvious
  reference to the Old Testament practice as
  outlined by God in Numbers 1821. Paul stated,
  Do you not know that those who minister the holy
  things eat of the things of the temple, and those
  who serve at the altar partake of the offerings
  of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded
  that those who preach the gospel should live from
  the gospel (1 Corinthians 913,14). He also
  asks in Romans 1015, How shall they preach
  unless they are sent? There must be some
  mechanism for the support of the ministry.

43

• Paul was obviously referring to the Old Testament
  tithing system. He drew a parallel between
  priests and Levites and those who were
  proclaiming the gospel. The point he argued is
  that the gospel workers should be provided with
  their living in the same way as was done in the
  priestly system. What was particularly important
  was that this was described as a direct command
  to the church from the Lord Himself. Thus, Paul
  implicitly endorsed Christian tithing.

44
The First and the Last

• It is interesting to note that in the Bibles
  first mention of tithing we find Abram giving his
  tithe to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most
  High (Genesis 1418-20). And the last mention
  of tithing in the Bible in Hebrews chapter seven,
  mentions this experience and reviews the Hebrews
  tithe to the Levites, and then brings in Christ
  as A priest forever after the order of
  Melchizedek (Hebrews 56) as a better system.

45

• In this longest discussion of tithing in the New
  Testament (Hebrews 71-10), the author of Hebrews
  is analyzing the encounter between Abram and
  Melchizedek, and making certain significant
  theological points in his argument. The fact
  that Abram returned his tithe to Melchizedek is
  taken as clear evidence of the superiority of the
  priesthood of Melchizedek over the Aaronic one.
  This passage presupposes that tithing is a
  divinely-ordained practice. There is no
  rejection of tithing, but rather an implicit
  recognition of its value and significance.

46

• The New Testament shows a conformity with the Old
  Testament principle of returning to God a tenth
  of everything we earn and reminds us of its
  purpose and significance.

47
Satans Plan for Your Money 4 (p. 10)

• 1. Selfishness--materialism--plays a major part
  in the great contro- versy TM
  474 Matt. 624

2. Tithing--a hedge against selfishness Deut.
1423
3. Abraham--father of the faithful
Gen. 14
4. From Jacob to Israel Gen 2820-22
48
The Significance of Tithing (p. 11)

• 1. Tithing and the tree of knowledge of good and
  evil
  CS 65

49
A Test of Loyalty

• The tithing system is the equivalent to the
  last-day Christian of the
• Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
• for Adam and Eve
• in the Garden of Eden.
• --CS 65

50

• There was nothing poisonous in the fruit itself,
  and the sin was not merely in yielding to
  appetite. (1) It was distrust of Gods goodness,
  (2) disbelief of His Word, (3) and rejection of
  His authority, that made our first parents
  transgressors, and that brought into the world a
  knowledge of evil.
• --Ed 25

51

• When we are faithful with our tithe we show God
  that we
• trust His goodness,
• believe His word,
• and accept His authority.

(See CS 65 and Ed 25)
52
The Significance of Tithing (p.11)

• 1. Tithing and the tree of knowledge
  of good and evil
• CS 65

2. Tithing and our covenant relationship
with God Abraham, Gen. 14 Jacob, Gen.
28
Mal 310 CS 75
53

• He who gave His only-begotten Son to die for
  you, has made a covenant with you. He gives you
  His blessings, and in return He requires you to
  bring Him your tithes and offerings.
• --CS 75

54
The Significance of Tithing (p.11)

• 3. Failure to tithe is robbery of God
  
• (Mal. 36-12 CS 77 CS 86)

55

• 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

56

• To defraud God is
• the greatest crime of
• which man can be guilty
• and yet this sin is
• deep and widespread.
• --CS 86

57
The Significance of Tithing (p.11)

• 3. Failure to tithe is robbery of God
  
• Mal. 36-12 CS 77 CS 86

4. Tithing is an act of worship Mal. 310
Ps. 11612-14
58

• Those churches who are the most
• systematic and liberal in sustaining the
• cause of God are the most prosperous
• spiritually.
• --3T 405

59

• Practical benevolence will give spiritual life
  to thousands of nominal professors of truth It
  will transform them from selfish, covetous
  worshipers of mammon to earnest, faithful
  co-workers with Christ in the salvation of
  sinners.
• --4T 387

60
Tithing and Revival (p. 12)

• 1. Blessings or cursings
• Deut. 28
• 
  

2. Return, revival, and information Mal
36-12
3. An honest tithe Mal 310
61
An Honest Tithe 3 Elements

• 1. Percent or Portion one tenth (10)
• Gen 1420 2822
• 2. Place to return it Gods storehouse
• Mal 310 Ps. 11614,18,19
• 3. Purpose the support of gospel workers
  Numbers 1821 1 Cor 914

62

• Early History

63
After leaving Egypt, and during the wilderness
wandering, there was no problem with getting to
the sanctuary for worship and bringing tithes and
offerings. The tribes were all camped around the
tabernacle in a specified order.
64
But things would be very different once they
occupied the Promised Land. Each tribe would
then be in its own designated territory and
have its own cities. Its
interesting that even though the Levites were
given 48 cities scattered throughout Canaan,
including the 6 cities of refuge, that God still
required the tithe to be brought to the central
storehouse.
65
Just before Moses died, he gathered all Israel
together and gave them three sermons or public
presentations. They are recorded for us in the
Bible as the book of
Deuteronomy. He stated that even though they
were to be settled and scattered all over Canaan,
three times a year they were to assemble at the
Lords house for praise, worship and the delivery
of their tithes and offerings.
66
But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the
land which the Lord your God giveth you to
inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all
your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in
safety
67

• Then there shall be a place which the Lord your
  God shall choose to cause his name to dwell
  there thither shall ye bring all that I command
  you your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices,
  your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand,
  and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the
  Lord.
• Deuteronomy 1210, 11

68
Three times thou shalt keep a feast
unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast
of unleavened bread thou shalt eat unleavened
bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the
time appointed of the month Abib for in it thou
camest out from Egypt and none shall appear
before me empty
69

• And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy
  labours, which thou hast sown in the field and
  the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of
  the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours
  out of the field. Three times in the year all
  thy males shall appear before the Lord God.
• Exodus 2314-17

70
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy
seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in
the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of
thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of
thy flocks that thou mayest learn to fear the
Lord thy God always. Deut. 1422, 23
71
And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou
art not able to carry it or if the place be too
far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall
choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy
God hath blessed thee Then shalt thou turn it
into money, and bind up the money in thine hand,
and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose Deut. 1424, 25
72
Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within
any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth
thee But at the place which the Lord thy God
shall choose to place his name in, there thou
shalt sacrifice the passover at even
Deut. 165,6
73
And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto
the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill
offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give
unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord
thy God hath blessed thee
Deut. 1610
74
Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles
seven days Deut 1613
75
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear
before the Lord thy God in the place which he
shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread,
and in the feast
of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles and
they shall not appear before the Lord
empty Deut. 1616
76
Every man shall give as he is able, according to
the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath
given thee. Deut. 1617
77

• God Would Protect
• Their Land

78

• 3 Annual Worship Assemblies of Israel at
  the Sanctuary (Exodus 2314-16)
• SHILOH (temporarily) place of gatherings
• JERUSALEM center of nations worship tribes
  convened for solemn feasts

79

• Gods Protection
• For I will cast out the nations before thee, and
  enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire
  thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before
  the Lord thy God thrice in the year.
• Exodus 3424

80

• Central Storehouse Established before Entrance
  Into Canaan

81
The conquest of Jericho

• But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of
  brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord
  they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
  Joshua 619-24

82

• And they burnt the city with fire, and all that
  was therein only the silver, and the gold, and
  the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into
  the treasury of the house of the Lord.
  Joshua 624

83

• So they and their children had the oversight of
  the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the
  house of the tabernacle, by wards

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were
in their set office, and were over the chambers
and treasuries of the house of God. And they
lodged round about the house of God, because the
charge was upon them, and the opening thereof
every morning pertained to them. 1
Chron. 923-27
84

• Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of
  the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the
  treasuries thereof, and the pattern of all

that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the
house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round
about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and
of the treasuries of the dedicated things.
1 Chron. 2811,12
85
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at
the feast of the passover. And when he was
twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after
the custom of the feast. Luke 240-43
86
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and
beheld how the people cast money into the
treasury Mark 1241
87

• Anciently the Lord instructed His people to
• assemble three times a year for His worship.
• To these holy convocations the children of
• Israel came, bringing to the house of God
• their tithes, their sin offerings, and their
• offerings of gratitude.
• 6T 39

88

• The annual feasts were a time of
• fellowship, education, and worship.
• Psalm 1221,2 I was glad
• Psalm 11618,19 I will pay my vows
• Malachi 310 Bring allto the storehouse

89

• Conclusion

90

• The Bottom Line 4 Important Facts

1. Israel gave at least one-fourth of their
income to God in the form of tithes, thank
offerings, support of the temple, and gifts to
the poor.
2. Most of these donations were personally
delivered by each family, in-kind or in cash
equivalents, to the central storehouse first at
Shiloh and then Jerusalem.
91

• The Bottom Line 4 Important Facts

3. This personal delivery system required being
away from home and work at least one month each
year.
4. The 25 giving and the one month away from
home were actually the basis for their prosperity
and blessing and they knew it!
92

• The contributions required of the Hebrews for
  religious and charitable purposes amounted to
  fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax
  upon the resources of the people might be
  expected to reduce them to poverty but, on the
  contrary, the faithful observance of these
  regulations was one of the conditions of their
  prosperity.
  PP 527

93

• Anciently God commanded his people to assemble
  three times a year, and from every city from Dan
  to Beersheba the people came to these annual
  feasts. The one at the commencement of the season
  was to entreat God's blessing upon their
  families, their lands, their flocks, and their
  herds. The one at the close of harvest was the
  crowning festal gathering, to bring their
  offerings to God. RH, July 10, 1879

94

• By thus assembling and bringing their tithes
  into the treasury, they ever acknowledged the
  Lord to be the giver of all their blessings. The
  children of Israel are our ensamples, that while
  we should imitate their faithfulness and virtues,
  we should shun those sins which brought the
  displeasure of God upon them.
• --RH, July 10, 1879

95

• Accordingly, in harmony with this Bible
  principle, the Seventh-day Adventist Church
  organization has designated the local conference
  as the storehouse to which the tithe should be
  returned and from which the gospel ministry would
  receive their salaries. In addition, the local
  conference gives support to the furtherance of
  the gospel in all the world.

96

• For the convenience of the church members and as
  part of their worship experience, the tithe is
  returned through the local church where
  membership is held and the local treasurer
  forwards all the tithe to the conference
  storehouse from which the religious workers are
  paid. This system, outlined by God, has enabled
  His church to have a world-wide and ever growing
  impact in the world.

97
Tithing and Revival (p. 12)

• 1. Blessings or cursings
• Deut. 28

2. Return, revival, and information Mal
36-12
3. An honest tithe Mal 310
4. The ministers responsibility CS 106
4T 256
98
The Problem The majority of professed
Christians part with their means with great
reluctance. Many of them do not give one
twentieth of their income to God, and many give
far less than that while there is a large class
who rob God of the little tithe, and others who
will give only the tithe. Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 4, p. 474
99
The Possibilities If all the tithes of our
people flowed into the treasury of the Lord as
they should, such blessings would be received
that gifts and offerings for sacred purposes
would be multiplied tenfold, and thus the channel
between God and man would be kept
open. Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 474
100

• The Plan of Action
• The followers of Christ should
• not wait for thrilling missionary appeals to
  arouse them to action. If spiritually awake, they
  would hear in the income of every week, whether
  much or little, the voice of God and of
  conscience with authority demanding the tithes
  and offerings due the Lord.
  
• Testimonies for the Church,
• vol. 4, p. 474

101
STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS20
Questions on Financial Stewardship
102
www.adventiststewardship.org
103

• Question 1
• Should we tithe on the gross or the net?

104
The Bible says we should put God First.

• Proverbs 39 Honor the Lord with your
  possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your
  increase.
• Matthew 633 Seek first the kingdom of God and
  His righteousness, and all these things shall be
  added to you.
• Studies done by Andrews University show that
  about 60 of Adventists tithe on the gross amount
  of income.

105

• Question 4
• Cant I just send my tithe where I feel that it
  will do the most good?

106
No. The Tithe is non-discretionary!

• The tithe is the Lords. He has told us what to
  do with it. Bring the tithe to the storehouse
  Mal. 310.
• Moses outlined the law of the central storehouse
  in Deut. 12 1-28. But you shall seek the place
  where your Lord choosesand there you shall
  goThere you shall takeyour tithes.
• Other good projects should be supported, but not
  from the tithe. 9T 249,250
• See Timely Counsels doc. On Website

107

• Question 10
• Isnt emphasis on tithe and offerings kind of
  legalistic?

108
Obedience is not legalism. Obedience--the
service and allegiance of love--is the true sign
of discipleship. (SC 60)

• If you are willing and obedient, you will eat
  the good of the land. (Isaiah 119)
• But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not
  the things which I say? (Lk 646)
• Those who hear and obey wise builders
• Those who hear and dont obey foolish builders.
  (Mt 721-27 Lk 646-49)
• To obey is better than sacrifice (1Sam 1522)

109
Acts of the Apostles, p. 566

• The greatest praise that men can bring to God
  is to become consecrated channels through whom He
  can work. Time is rapidly passing into eternity.
  Let us not keep back from God that which is His
  own. Let us not refuse Him that which, though it
  cannot be given with merit, cannot be denied
  without ruin. He asks for a whole heart give it
  to Him it is His, both by creation and by
  redemption. He asks for your intellect give it
  to Him it is His. He asks for your money give
  it to Him it is His. "Ye are not your own, for
  ye are bought with a price." 1 Corinthians 619,
  20.

110

• Question 19
• Why did Jesus say, Remember Lots wife? (Luke
  1732)

111
She clung to earthly possessions and lost eternal
life.(RH Dec. 11, 1900 2SM 354) A pillar of
salt forever

• She looked back because her heart, her
  possessions, and her children were still in
  Sodom. PP. 161
• When we remember Lots wife, we must remember
  that no person or any thing is worth trading for
  eternal life.

112
Counsels on Stewardship, p. 104

• Our ministers would feel sadly aggrieved if they
  were not promptly paid for their labor but will
  they consider that there must be meat in the
  treasure house of God where- with to sustain
  laborers? If they fail to do their whole duty in
  educating the people to be faithfulthere will be
  a shortage of meansto carry forward the Lords
  work.

113
Counsels on Stewardship, p. 104

• Those who go forth as ministers have a solemn
  responsibility devolving upon them which is
  strangely neglected There is great need of
  instruction concerning the obligations and duties
  to God, especially in regard to paying an honest
  tithe.

114
Counsels on Stewardship p. 105

• It is part of the ministers work to teach
  those who accept the truth through his efforts,
  to bring the tithe to the store-
• house, as an acknowledgement of their
  dependence upon God. The new converts should be
  fully enlightened as to their duty to return to
  the Lord His own. The command to pay tithe is so
  plain that there is no semblance of excuse for
• disregarding it.

115
Counsels on Stewardship p. 106

• If (pastors) fail to set before the church the
  importance of returning to God His own, if they
  do not see to it that the officers under them are
  faithful, and that the tithe is brought in, they
  are in peril. They are neglecting a matter which
  involves a blessing or a curse to the church.
  They should be relieved of their responsibility.

116
Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 256

• When (ministers) neglect to teach the people
  their obligation to God in tithes and offerings,
  they neglect one important part of the work which
  their Master has left them to do, and Unfaithful
  servant is written against their names in the
  books of heaven.

117
It should be our highest aim in life to get
ready for heaven. 5 MR 255
118

• To the faithful servants he said, Well done,
  good and faithful servant you were faithful over
  a few things, I will make you ruler over many
  things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.
• The words, Well done are only spoken to those
  who manage their money Christianly!

119
My goal as a committed Christian is to take what
God has given me in time, talents, body temple,
and my treasure, and trade with it until He comes
with the perspective of bringing profit to His
kingdom.
120
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