[In this series we have been considering Isaiah 60:10, "Sons of Strangers Shall Build Up Thy Walls." Now in this final installment the author raises the question, "Shall 'Strange Fire' of Some Sons Damage Our Walls?" or, "Can wrong methods of fund raising actually hinder the cause of God?"]
How and why offerings are made to God concern Him deeply. These questions have always concerned Him, and they always will. There are several ways that we as worshipers may manifest our love and devotion to the One who has given Himself to and for us. We may sing, we may pray, we may praise, and we may labor in His vineyard. But perhaps none of these touch so vitally the relationship between us and our Lord as do our offerings. Offerings touch us at the core. An offering that is in truth an offering, is a gift of the heart. In none of these other modes of revealing professed love does the record disclose such severe penalties for falsifying. In both the Old and the New Testament two people at one stroke were carried out dead because they gave substitutes in making offerings. Poor Ananias and Sapphira were not obliged to make a pretense of their devotion.
The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, "died before the Lord" (Lev. 10:2). What was the cause? An offering. An offering to God. An offering that did not conform to God's plan. An offering to God that did Him dishonor rather than honor. An offering that exhibited disobedience rather than obedience. An offering void of faith and love. An offering that did not make a difference between the consecrated and the common, between the called and the commercial. And Moses commanded Aaron and his remaining sons, "Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die" (Lev. 10:6). "Aaron was silent. . . By no manifestation of grief must he seem to sympathize with sin."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 361.
This abrupt and startling judgment may seem severe and unjust to some, but the influence of men so highly favored with light and position must be reckoned with.
"Great blessings or privileges should never lull to security or carelessness. They should never give license to sin, or cause the recipients to feel that God will not be exact with them. All the advantages which God has given, are His means to throw ardor into the spirit, zeal into effort, and vigor into the carrying out of His holy will."—Ibid., p. 360.
Early in the world's history God gave careful instruction concerning the offerings men were to bring to Him. He gave example of His displeasure when those instructions were disregarded. God "had respect" unto Abel's offering, but unto Cain's presumptuous disobedience "he had not respect."
Substitute Motives
Perhaps appeals to substitute motives when it comes to how and why offerings are given to God are among the most serious and damaging to the foundations that this people are charged to build up. Israel's first king proposed a sacrifice contrary to God's direction—and lost his crown thereby (I Sam. 15:15, 21, 23). Death came to Nadab and Abihu by fire because of a departure from God's plan.
"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. . . . Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice" (Ps. 50:3-5).
Only one covenant will keep when "fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (I Cor. 3:13). That covenant must have a fireproof, binding element—an element that will not only withstand fire, but that will respond to the great magnet that will draw all men unto Him.
That binding element is love, revealed in sacrifice. There is no suitable substitute. Nothing ,else will keep the covenant from being broken. If we do not develop such love now, we will not have it then. How tragic, then, to toy with God-,forbidden expedients as substitute motives.
"Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God's government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian's character. This alone can make and keep him stedfast. This alone can enable him to withstand trial and temptation.
"And love will be revealed in sacrifice. The plan of redemption was laid in sacrifice,—a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all for us, and those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their Redeemer. The thought of His honor and glory will come before anything else. ...
"This is the religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception."—Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 49, 50.
"Good works cost us a sacrifice, but it is in this very sacrifice that they provide discipline. These obligations bring us into conflict with natural feelings and propensities, and in fulfilling them we gain victory after victory over the objectionable traits of our characters. The warfare goes on, and thus we grow in grace. Thus we reflect the likeness of Christ and are prepared for a place among the blessed in the kingdom of God."—Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 262, 263.
How foolish the devil would be if he did not maneuver to prevent such an experience from coming to the church; or if he could not prevent it entirely, to confine it to a few elderly sisters who would have no access to offerings from the church but would seem to be dependent on sales and suppers for the little means they could get to carry on a benevolent work!
"The Revenue of the Gospel"
God's Word makes plain the way in which means for His work is to be obtained. In addition to the tithe are the freewill offerings. "Bring an offering, and come into his courts" (Ps. 96: 8). "And none shall appear before me empty" (Ex. 23:15). "Every man shall give as he is able" (Deut. 16:17). "Sell that ye have, and give alms" (Luke 12:33).
"Voluntary offerings and the tithe constitute the revenue of the gospel."—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 149.
"The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable purposes amounted to fully one-fourth of their income."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 527.
They were to provide faithfully for the poor, the widows, and the fatherless.
"Besides the tithe the Lord demands the first fruits of all our increase. These He has reserved in order that His work in the earth may be amply sustained. . . . Deeds of mercy must be done; the poor and suffering must be aided. Gifts and offerings should be appropriated for this purpose.. . Every extravagance should be cut out of our lives, for the time we have for work is short."—Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 384, 385.
"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."—/bid., vol. 4, p. 474.
"All Gave With a Willing Hand"
It is when there is a building program ahead or often after a building has been completed, but not paid for, that the temptation comes most frequently to resort to methods of raising funds that might appear worthy on the surface, but which are actually questionable and are inclined to test the basic purity of our motives and our understanding of God's true plan for raising funds,—tithes and offerings. It was in connection with the building of that first house for God that the basic acceptable premise was outlined.
"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering" (Ex. 25:2).
"The liberality of the Jews in the construction of the tabernacle and the erection of the temple, illustrates a spirit of benevolence which has not been equaled by Christians of any later date. . . They withheld nothing. All gave with a willing hand, not a certain amount of their increase, but a large portion of their actual possessions. They devoted it gladly and heartily to the Lord, and pleased Him by so doing. . . . No urging was needed. The people brought even more than was required, and were told to desist, for there was already more than could be appropriated."—/bid., pp. 77, 78.
"Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice were the first requisites in preparing a dwelling-place for the Most High."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 343.
And where did the children of Israel, recently freed from slavery, get the silver and gold and other finery for the erection of the tabernacle?
"And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked" (Ex. 12:35, 36, R.V.).
Here the Egyptians were the "sons of strangers" who helped build the walls of the tabernacle. The wealth the Israelites obtained from these strangers was freely given to the building of God's house.
Again during the rebuilding of the temple under the direction of Ezra, the people "offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place" (Ezra 2:68). And not only did the Israelites offer money and treasures for the restoration of the house of God, but "all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered" (Ezra 1:6).
Here again before the Israelites embarked upon a building program "sons of strangers"—this time the Persians—contributed those things of wealth to a group of returning captives for the building of the house of God. The Lord made ample provision, both for a group of penniless slaves and a small group of returning captives, that they should be supplied from strangers round about them with ample means for the building of His houses. And as we have seen in previous articles, He still moves "sons of strangers" to help build His walls.
However, nowhere in the Bible or Spirit of prophecy do we find bazaars, pleasure parties, or even sales used or condoned as a means for raising funds for these purposes. He has directed that His work shall prosper through the tithes and freewill offerings made in sacri
flee by His own people and through gifts from "sons of strangers."
"As God's work extends, calls for help will come more and more frequently. That these calls may be answered, Christians should heed the command, 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house.' If professing Christians would faithfully bring to God their tithes and offerings, His treasury would be full. There would then be no occasion to resort to fairs, lotteries, or parties of pleasure to secure funds for the support of the gospel."—Acts of the Apostles, p. 338.
"We are not to imitate the churches by instituting bazaars and various God-forbidden expedients to bring in a little means. We see no direction in the word for fancy fairs, concerts, and other objectionable practises for raising funds to advance His work. The curse of God is upon all this kind of work."—MRS. E. G. WHITE, Living by Principle, p. 16.
"Even the church, which should be the pillar and ground of the truth, is found encouraging a selfish love of pleasure. When money is raised for religious purposes, to what means do many churches resort? To bazaars, suppers, fancy fairs, even to lotteries and like devices. Often the place set apart for God's worship is desecrated by feasting and drinking, buying, selling, and merrymaking. Respect for the house of God and reverence for His worship are lessened in the minds of the youth. The barriers of self-restraint are weakened. Selfishness, appetite, the love of display, are appealed to, and they strengthen as they are indulged."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 91.
A Methodist and Lutheran Viewpoint
Even many other churches are beginning to recognize these truths. The Methodist Christian Advocate, October 8, 1937, supported the counsel from the Lord's messenger:
"I have searched the Bible for occasions when sales were made to replenish the Lord's treasury. . . . The gold and silver and brass, the blue and purple and scarlet for the wilderness tabernacle were given outright, and given until the treasurers cried, 'Enough!' And that beautiful church stands out in sacred history as a perpetual monument to freewill offering. Suppers, festivals, and the like for church finance had their 'rise' in the last half century, more or less. Church apostasy runs along parallel with that, which may or may not be a coincidence. Since I have known anything or had anything of finance, I have believed in paying the Lord's tithe. And today I steadfastly believe that the Lord's work, [depends upon the tithe] to say nothing of the freewill offerings, which the ancient pious Jews always added. Surely we could add no less."
Some Lutherans also abhor "bizarre bazaars." Notice this statement from the American Lutheran, September, 1938:
'The iron lung frequently used to reclaim churches from financial paralysis is the bazaar or sale, usually under the direct sponsorship of the church's ladies' society. Much money has been gathered by this means. To maintain that an organization within the church may do what would be unethical for a congregation to do, is wrong. Every organization within the church is a part of the church, for independent of the church it could not exist. Hence also whatever an organization within the church does is a direct reflection on the congregation as such. One cannot divorce a church organization from the congregation in whose confines it lives and thrives. Conducting bazaars and sales is not in itself a sinful act, and hence cannot be subject to general censure. Where exorbitant prices are asked, or inferior goods are offered, they stand condemned on other grounds, clearly stated in the seventh [eighth] commandment. Since, however, the danger of abuse is great and since the correct interpretation of a possible good use is almost entirely on the defensive side, therefore they ought not to be conducted, neither should these mediums be condoned, but their use rather should be condemned."
Now let us read again the counsel of Ellen G. White:
"In the days of Israel the tithe and free-will offerings were needed to maintain the ordinances of divine service. Should the people of God give less in this age? . . 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."—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 528, 529.
From the shocking experience of Nadab and Abihu we note:
"God designed to teach the people that they must approach Him with reverence and awe, and in His own appointed manner. He cannot accept partial obedience. It was not enough that in this solemn season of worship nearly everything was done as He had directed. God has pronounced a curse upon those who depart from His commandments, and put no difference between common and holy things. He declares by the prophet: 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness! . . . Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. .' Let no one deceive himself with the belief that a part of God's commandments are non-essential, or that He will accept a substitute for that which He has required."—Ibid., p. 360.
The sweet-smelling incense of Nadab and Abihu, the large but misleading offering of Ananias and Sapphira, the delicious fruits of Cain, were odious before God. And He meted out judgment. These good-appearing offerings were not made in a spirit of obedience; they were not given from a heart of love. And "without pure love the most expensive offering is too poor for God to accept."—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 653. (Italics supplied.)
But Abel's gift of obedience and the poor widow's gift of sacrifice were accepted and blessed. "Every such offering is accounted of God as precious treasure."---Ibid., pp. 198, 199. "It is the motive that gives character to our acts" (The Desire of Ages, p. 615), and it is the spirit of sacrificial obedience that makes our offerings acceptable before God. He cannot add His blessing upon funds raised and given from substitute motives, for the motive is the essence of the offering.
In bold and blessed contrast to the fruits of disobedience in matters of offerings, are the fruits of obedience. Just two verses before the solemn record of divine retribution by "fire" that "devoured" Nadab and Abihu for their "substitute" offering is the record of "an offering in righteousness" that brought great joy and rejoicing. "And the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering .. . : which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces" (Lev. 9:23, 24).
What a glorious thing is divine approval! How wonderful is approbation from above! When the church of today qualifies for that "living fire," then the work will soon be finished. "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire . . . : and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver! and he shall purify the sons of Levi, . . . that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord" (Mal. 3:2, 3, 4).
"At the altar of self-sacrifice—the appointed place of meeting between God and the soul—we receive from the hand of God the celestial torch which searches the heart, revealing its great need of an abiding Christ."—A Call to Medical Evangelism and Health Education, p. 48.
"In the future our work is to be carried forward in self-denial and self-sacrifice even beyond that which we have seen in past years. God desires us to commit our souls to Him, that He may work through us in manifold ways. I feel intensely over these matters. Brethren, let us walk in meekness and lowliness of mind, and put before our associates an example of self-sacrifice. If we do our part in faith, God will open ways before us now undreamed of."—Ibid., p. 13.
"The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within, when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is expressed in the countenance."—/bid., p. 47.
And as we help others unselfishly the Spirit of God often works on their hearts and impresses them to help the cause of God until even the "sons of strangers shall build up thy walls." (Isa. 62:10).
[End of Series]
