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of the conditions of their prosperity。 On condition of their obedience God
made them this promise： 〃I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes； and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground； neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field。 。 。 。 And all nations shall call you
blessed： for ye shall be a delightsome land； saith the Lord of hosts。〃
Malachi 3：11。
A striking illustration of the results of selfishly withholding even
freewill offerings from the cause of God was given in the days of the
prophet Haggai。 After their return from the captivity in Babylon； the Jews
undertook to rebuild the temple of the Lord； but meeting determined
opposition from their enemies； they discontinued the work； and a severe
drought； by which they were reduced to actual want； convinced them that it
was impossible to complete the building of the temple。 〃The time is not
come；〃 they said； 〃the time that the Lord's house should be built。〃 But a
message was sent them by the Lord's prophet： 〃Is it time for you； O ye； to
dwell in your ceiled houses； and this house lie waste？ Now therefore thus
saith the Lord of hosts； Consider your ways。 Ye have sown much； and bring in
little； ye eat； but ye have not enough； ye drink； but ye are not filled with
drink； ye clothe you； but there is none warm； and he that earneth wages；
earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes。〃 Haggai 1：2…6。 And then the
reason is given： 〃Ye looked for much； and； lo； it came to little； and when
ye brought it home； I did blow upon it。 Why？ saith the Lord of hosts。
Because of Mine house that is waste； and ye run every man unto his own
house。 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew； and the earth is
stayed from her fruit。 And I called for a drought upon the land； and upon
the mountains； and upon the corn； and upon the new wine； and upon the oil；
and upon that which the ground bringeth forth； and upon men； and upon
cattle； and upon all the labor of the hands。〃 Verses 9…12。 〃When one came to
a heap of twenty measures；
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there were but ten： when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty
vessels out of the press； there were but twenty。 I smote you with blasting
and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands。〃 Haggai 2：16；
19。
Roused by these warnings； the people set themselves to build the house of
God。 Then the word of the Lord came to them： 〃Consider now from this day and
upward； from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month； even from the
day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid； 。 。 。 from this day
will I bless you。〃 Verses 18； 19。
Says the wise man； 〃There is that scattereth； and yet increaseth； and there
is that withholdeth more than is meet； but it tendeth to poverty。〃 Proverbs
11：24。 And the same lesson is taught in the New Testament by the apostle
Paul： 〃He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly； and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully。〃 〃God is able to make all
grace abound toward you； that ye； always having all sufficiency in all
things； may abound to every good work。〃 2 Corinthians 9：6； 8。
God intended that His people Israel should be light bearers to all the
inhabitants of the earth。 In maintaining His public worship they were
bearing a testimony to the existence and sovereignty of the living God。 And
this worship it was their privilege to sustain； as an expression of their
loyalty and their love to Him。 The Lord has ordained that the diffusion of
light and truth in the earth shall be dependent upon the efforts and
offerings of those who are partakers of the heavenly gift。 He might have
made angels the ambassadors of His truth； He might have made known His will；
as He proclaimed the law from Sinai； with His own voice； but in His infinite
love and wisdom He called men to become colaborers with Himself； by choosing
them to do this work。
In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed to
maintain the ordinances of divine service。 Should the people of God give
less in this age？ The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings to
God should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed。 〃Unto
whomsoever much is given； of him shall be much required。〃 Luke 12：48。 Said
the Saviour to His disciples as He sent them forth； 〃Freely ye have
received； freely give。〃 Matthew 10：8。 As our blessings and privileges are
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increasedabove all； as we have before us the unparalleled sacrifice of the
glorious Son of Godshould not our gratitude find expression in more
abundant gifts to extend to others the message of salvation？ The work of the
gospel； as it widens； requires greater provision to sustain it than was
called for anciently； and this makes the law of tithes and offerings of even
more urgent necessity now than under the Hebrew economy。 If His people were
liberally to sustain His cause by their voluntary gifts； instead of
resorting to unchristian and unhallowed methods to fill the treasury； God
would be honored； and many more souls would be won to Christ。
The plan of Moses to raise means for the building of the tabernacle was
highly successful。 No urging was necessary。 Nor did he employ any of the
devices to which churches in our day so often resort。 He made no grand
feast。 He did not invite the people to scenes of gaiety； dancing； and
general amusement； neither did he institute lotteries； nor anything of this
profane order； to obtain means to erect the tabernacle for God。 The Lord
directed Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring their offerings。 He
was to accept gifts from everyone that gave willingly； from his heart。 And
the offerings came in so great abundance that Moses bade the people cease
bringing； for they had supplied more than could be used。
God has made men His stewards。 The property which He has placed in their
hands is the means that He has provided for the spread of the gospel。 To
those who prove themselves faithful stewards He will commit greater trusts；
Saith the Lord； 〃Them that honor Me I will honor。〃 1 Samuel 2：30。 〃God
loveth a cheerful giver；〃 and when His people； with grateful hearts； bring
their gifts and offerings to Him； 〃not grudgingly； or of necessity；〃 His
blessing will attend them； as He has promised。 〃Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse； that there may be meat in Mine house； and prove Me now
herewith； 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。〃 Malachi 3：10。
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Chapter 51
God's Care for the Poor
To promote the assembling of the people for religious service； as well as to
provide for the poor； a second tithe of all the increase was required。
Concerning the first tithe； the Lord had declared； 〃I have given the
children of Levi all the tenth in Israel。〃 Numbers 18：21。 But in regard to
the second He commanded； 〃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 win