The
tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His
treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work. For a long
time the Lord has been robbed because there are those who do not realize that
the tithe is God’s reserved portion. {9T 249.1}
Some have been dissatisfied and
have said: “I will not longer pay my tithe; for I have no confidence in the way
things are managed at the heart of the work.” But will you rob God because you
think the management of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly and
openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for
things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of
God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right. {9T 249.2}
Read
carefully the third chapter of Malachi and see what God says about the tithe.
If our churches will take their stand upon the Lord’s word and be faithful in
paying their tithe into His treasury, more laborers will be encouraged to take
up ministerial work. More men would give themselves to the ministry were they
not told of the depleted treasury. There should be an abundant supply in the
Lord’s treasury, and there would be if selfish hearts and hands had not
withheld the tithes or made use of them to support other lines of work. {9T 249.3}
God’s
reserved resources are to be used in no such haphazard way. The tithe is the Lord’s, and
those who, meddle with it will be punished with the loss of their heavenly
treasure unless they repent. Let the work no longer be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted
into various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should
go. Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be
sustained, but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is still to
be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields
requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means
in the treasury. {9T 249.4}
Those
who go forth as ministers have a solemn responsibility devolving upon them
which is strangely neglected. Some enjoy preaching, but they do not give
personal labor to the churches. There is great need of instruction concerning
the obligations and duties to God, especially in regard to paying an honest
tithe. 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 wherewith to sustain the laborers? If they fail to do their whole
duty in educating the people to be faithful in paying to God His own, there
will be a shortage of means in the treasury to carry forward the Lord’s work. {9T 250.1}
The
overseer of the flock of God should faithfully discharge his duty. If he takes
the position that because this is not pleasant to him, he will leave it for
someone else to do, he is not a faithful worker. Let him read in Malachi the
words of the Lord charging the people with robbery toward God in withholding
the tithes. The mighty God declares: “Ye are cursed with a curse.” Malachi 3:9. When the one who ministers in word and
doctrine sees the people pursuing a course that will bring this curse upon
them, how can he neglect his duty to give them, instruction and warning? Every
church member should be taught to be faithful in paying an honest tithe. {9T 250.2}
“Bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house,
and prove Me now here with, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.” Verse 10.
{9T 251.1} “I understand that you are also proclaiming that we should
not pay tithe. My brother, take off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place
where on you are standing is holy ground. The Lord has spoken in regard to
paying tithes. He has said, ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in Mine house.’ ... {CS 83.3}
“Very
recently I have had direct light from the Lord upon this question, that many
Seventh-day Adventists, were robbing God in tithes and offerings, and it was
plainly revealed to me that Malachi has stated the case as it really is. Then
how dare any man even think in his heart that a suggestion to withhold tithes
and offerings is from the Lord? Where, my brother, have you stepped out of the
path? O get your feet back in the straight path again.”—Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 60. {CS 83.4}
God
Has Settled the Question of Wages—If women do the work that is not the most agreeable to
many of those who labor in word and doctrine, and if their works testify that
they are accomplishing a work that has been manifestly neglected, should not
such labor be looked upon as being as rich in results as the work of the ordained
ministers? Should it not command the hire of the laborer? ... {DG 105.1}
This
question is not for men to settle. The Lord has settled it. You are to do your
duty to the women who labor in the gospel, whose work testifies that they are
essential to carrying the truth into families. Their work is just the work that
must be done, and should be encouraged. In many respects a woman can impart
knowledge to her sisters that a man cannot. The cause would suffer great loss
without this kind of labor by women. Again and again the Lord has shown me that
women teachers are just as greatly needed to do the work to, which He has
appointed them as are men.—Evangelism, 493 (1903). {DG 105.2}
Women to Receive Wages for Their Work—There are
ministers’ wives—Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson, and Robinson—who have been
devoted, earnest, whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and praying with
families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their
husbands. These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive
nothing for their labors because their husbands receive wages. I tell them to
go forward and all such decisions will be revised. The Word says, “The labourer
is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10:7. When any such
decision as this is made, I will, in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel
it my duty to create a fund from my tithe money to pay these women who are
accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe
I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for
souls, fishing for souls. {DG 106.1}
I
know that the faithful women should be paid wages as it is considered
proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls
and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to
educating those newly come to the faith and hire their own work done and pay
those who work for them. All these things must be adjusted and set in order and
justice be done to all. Proofreaders in the office receive their wages; those
who are working at housework receive their wages, two dollars and a half and
three dollars a week. This I have had to pay and others have to pay. But
ministers’ wives, who carry a tremendous responsibility, devoting their entire
time, have nothing for their labor.—Manuscript Releases
12:160 (1898). {DG 106.2}
