The act of giving is worship, whether it be the primitive manner of appeasing the gods or the Christian way of paying tithes and offerings to God. In Buddhism, Moham medanism, or whatever form of worship, giving is the integral part of the relationship between the suppliant and his god. The worshiper recognizes a superior being upon whom he is dependent for daily sustenance, or else a being who will wreak his wrath upon one failing to give.
The Christian gives, or at least he should give, because he recognizes God as Creator and Sustainer of life. The first two chapters of the book of Genesis record the beautiful story of creation. God, with Christ, withheld nothing from man to make him happy. God even granted man the power of choice. The third chapter of Genesis records man's abuse of the power of choice, which was the gift of God. The eternal precept was broken, and "the wages of sin is death" (eternal destruction). God, a perfect being, could not change His perfect law. Man was hopelessly lost, and rightfully so.
This world is just an iota in comparison with the universe, and God could easily have wiped it out of existence, but along with the vanishing world would have gone His justice. Isaiah speaks concerning this world in diminutive terms: "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance" (Isa. 40:15). One drop of water out of a bucketful would never be missed, yet that is the comparison of this world with the universe. Then just try to comprehend the minuteness of one individual out of the billions and tens of billions who have been born since sin entered the world. For God it was im possible either to obliterate the world or to save the world and all its sinful inhabitants, and still be a just God. Christ as Co-creator with God was moved with compassion in behalf of the helplessness and hopelessness of humanity. The Father could not accept the angels, who offered themselves, as saviors for man, because they, like men, were created beings. Thus Christ was accepted by God as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8) in behalf of the individual repentant sinner.
Christ removed the crown from His head and handed it along with the scepter to His Father. Christ offered to come to earth and be born in the flesh, live a life of poverty and service, be abused and mocked as foretold by Isaiah (chapter 53), wear a crown of thorns upon the brow that had worn the crown of the universe, and die the death of sinful man in order that all men may have the opportunity to live throughout eternity.
"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed.'" The Desire of Ages, p. 25. God emptied heaven by the gift of His Son, expressing His deep affection for the creatures made in His own image by His hand. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Human Dependency on God
Through Christ man receives the blessings of the day, including food, shelter, and most of all the protection of God. If it were but for these blessings alone, man owes to God tithes and offerings. He is merely a dependent of God. Through Christ not only has man received the blessings of the day, but more than these he has received the priceless gift of salvation. Christ played not only the part of Creator but also that of Redeemer. God has rightly asked man to return tithes and offerings, as an act of worship, to the One who is the giver of all things. In the early days of the history of this world Cain and Abel recognized God as the one to be worshiped through sacrificial offerings. The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was to build an altar unto the Lord "and offered burnt offerings on the altar" (Gen. 8:20). Jacob at Bethel promised God, "Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee" (Gen. 28:22).
"The system of tithes and offerings was intended to impress the minds of men with a great truth, that God is the source of every blessing to His creatures, and that to Him man's gratitude is due for the good gifts of His providence. . . . " 'The tithe . . . is the Lord's.' Here the same form of expression is employed as in the law of the Sabbath. 'The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.' God reserved to Himself a specified portion of man's time and of his means, and no man could, without guilt, appropriate either for his own interests." Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 525, 526. In the time of Christ the offering was an act of worship. "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury" (Mark 12:41). Note that the Master was not interested in what they gave, but He was deeply concerned as to how they gave.
"Christ called the attention of the disciples to this woman, who had given 'all her living.' He esteemed her gift of more value than the large offerings of those whose alms did not call for self-denial. . . . Thus He taught that the value of the gift is estimated not by the amount, but by the pro portion that is given, and the motive that actuates the giver." Acts of the Apostles, p. 342. Through her gift, the two mites, the widow worshiped God "in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23). The true measurement of devotion is not the amount given but how the gift is given, even though it be very minute. With the gift of the suppliant his life should be presented on the altar of God, for "the gift without the giver is bare." Liberal giving usually leads to liberal service, but both the gift and the service are inspired by true worship.
"Expository Preaching for Today"
R. A. A.
For years we have been reading Dr. Blackwood's books in the field of pastoral min istry. Some have been included in our regular reading course, and others have been listed as strong recommendations for electives. Now the ninth volume has come from his pen, and it is excellent.
Dr. and Mrs. Blackwood have both visited our Theological Seminary, and from their rich background of experience have made valuable contributions to our students in attendance at the time. Those who were privileged to hear these chapel talks naturally wished that their fellow workers around the world might have shared the inspiration of those occasions. A condensation of those talks later appeared in the pages of THE MINISTRY. His latest volume, entitled Expository Preaching for Today, touches a vital phase of preaching. A reader cannot help feeling the warmth of the love of Christ that flows from the heart of the author. The suggestions throughout the book are excellent, A review by Dr. C. E. Weniger appears on page 37.
A candid evaluation of this book leads me to believe that the latter chapters are even more appealing than the earlier portion of the book. Every page in the last eight chapters sparkles with practical help and reveals a thorough understanding of the place of expository preaching in the molding of the congregation. His leads into the expositions of the parables are excellent, and this chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Of all Christian workers, Adventists should be known as expository preachers; but are we? True, our type of preaching is Biblical; that is, it is found within the Bible; but are we developing real expositors?
The principles laid down by Dr. Blackwood set forth in clear, yet forceful language what is expected of a true expositor. Many books have appeared in this field through the years, but, to paraphrase the words of wisdom, I would say to the author, "Many writers have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." This is a book that will recommend itself to our readers.
