SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL WORKER


A. HOW DOES THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH FINANCE ITS WORLDWIDE PROGRAM?
  1. Not by church bazaars: John 2:13-20
  2. Nor by any method of taxing its members: Matt. 10:4
  3. Money was never a condition of church membership:
    1. The moneyless receive the same service as people who possess means to contribute to the cause.
    2. None of the members receive a bill from the pastor to cover his wages.
B. HOW THE ADVENTIST CHURCH FINANCES ITS WORLDWIDE WORK
  1. It follows God's plan in paying a tithe of the increase of the income of the members of the church:
    1. It is God's plan - Mal. 3:8-11; Matt. 23:23
    2. This plan was a part of the worship of God's children, dating back to the beginning of time -
      1. Abraham paid tithe - Gen. 14:18-20
      2. Jacob promised the Lord a tithe of his income - Gen. 28:20-22
    3. Ancient Israel was directed to pay a tithe of all their increase of the harvest or otherwise. Compare Num. 18:21-24 with 1 Chron. 31:5; Lev. 27:30
  2. We believe that God's original plan of supporting the work of the gospel carries over into the New Testament:
    1. This is indicated in Matt. 23:23
    2. Also in 1 Cor. 9:7-14
    3. Paul, when comparing the two Priesthoods, the Levitical and the Melchizedek ordinances, points to the tithe - Heb. 7:1- 10
C. SIGNIFICATION OF THE TITHING SYSTEM
  1. It recognizes God the sovereign owner of all wealth:
    1. All silver and gold are His - Hag. 2:8; 1 Chron. 29:14-16
    2. We are, at best, stewards of God's property - 1 Pet. 4:10; Tit. 1:7
  2. The tithe is a test to man:
    1. To recognize God's ownership of all his possessions -
      1. Our first parents were tested on the recognition of God's ownership - Gen. 2:15-17
      2. So does God test all men - Mal. 3:8, 9; Luke 16:1-12
    2. To teach us a threefold lesson -
      1. Honesty toward God and man - Mal. 3:8; Luke 16:10
      2. Unselfishness - God lets us keep nine parts and He takes one part.
      3. To break us from covetousness--one of the greatest sins.
  3. The amazing love of God:
    1. He requires a tithe of all our increase, but not for Himself.
    2. He takes that tithe and puts it to work for our salvation! That is the way He sends missionaries to carry the gospel story!
  4. The tithe is, in fact, the livelihood of the gospel worker, who spends his life in the service of the Lord; when we withhold the tithe, we take away the livelihood of the minister!
  5. Blessing of the tithing system:
    1. A very unusual promise to the tithe payer - Mal. 3:10-12
    2. Only the faithful tithe payer knows the blessedness of giving God His own.


Design © John Bryant 2011