That man might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our Redeemer formed the plan of enlisting him as His co-worker. God could have reached His object in saving sinners without the aid of man, but He knew that man could not be happy without acting a part in the great work. By a chain of circumstances which would call forth his charities, He bestows upon man the best means of cultivating benevolence, and keeps him habitually giving to help the poor and to advance His cause. By its necessities a ruined world is drawing forth from us talents of means and of influence, to present to men and women the truth, of which they are in perishing need. And as we heed these calls, by labor and by acts of benevolence, we are assimilated to the image of Him who for our sakes became poor. In bestowing we bless others and thus accumulate true riches.
"It is the glory of the gospel that it is founded upon the principle of restoring in the fallen race the divine image by a constant manifestation of benevolence. This work began in the heavenly courts. There God gave to human beings an unmistakable evidence of the love with which He regarded them. He '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). The gift of Christ reveals the Father's heart. It testifies that, having undertaken our redemption, He will spare nothing, however dear, which is necessary to the completion of His work.
"The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. Christ's self-sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. That man might be saved, He gave all that He had and then gave Himself. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. This, carried out in actual benevolence and good works, is the true fruit of the Christian life. The principle of worldlings is to get, get, and thus they expect to secure happiness; but carried out in all its bearings, the fruit is misery and death.
"The light of the gospel shining from the cross of Christ rebukes selfishness and encourages liberality and benevolence. It should not be a lamented fact that there are increasing calls to give. God in His providence is calling His people out from their limited sphere of action, to enter upon greater enterprises. Unlimited effort is demanded at this time when moral darkness is covering the world. Many of God's people are in danger of being ensnared by worldliness and covetousness. They should understand that it is His mercy that multiplies the demands for their means. Objects that call benevolence into action must be placed before them, or they cannot pattern after the character of the great Exemplar.
Divine Gifts to Flow Through Human Channels
"In commissioning His disciples to go 'into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,' Christ assigned to men the work of extending the knowledge of His grace. But while some go forth to preach, He calls upon others to answer His claims upon them for offerings with which to support His cause in the earth. He has placed means in the hands of men, that His divine gifts may flow through human channels in doing the work appointed us in saving our fellow men. This is one of God's ways of exalting man. It is just the work that man needs, for it will stir the deepest sympathies of his heart and call into exercise the highest capabilities of the mind. .. .
"The love expressed on Calvary should be revived, strengthened, and diffused among our churches. Shall we not do all we can to give power to the principles which Christ brought to this world? Shall we not strive to establish and give efficiency to the benevolent enterprises which are now called for without delay? As you stand before the cross and see the Prince of heaven dying for you, can you seal your heart, saying: 'No; I have nothing to give'?
"Christ's believing people are to perpetuate His love. This love is to draw them together around the cross. It is to divest them of all selfishness and bind them to God and to one another.
A Link in God's Golden Chain
"Meet around the cross of Calvary in self-sacrifice and self-denial. God will bless you as you do your best. As you approach the throne of grace, as you find yourself bound to this throne by the golden chain let down from heaven to earth to draw men from the pit of sin, your heart will go out in love for your brethren and sisters who are without God and without hope in the world."—Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 253-256.
"Voluntary offerings and the tithe constitute the revenue of the gospel."—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 149.
Of the work and plans of Paul, the model evangelist, we read that he preached the word, studied with the people, won them to Christ, baptized them, and encouraged them to win others. And he placed upon them the responsibility of supporting the cause. It was to Paul a glorious work and experience.
There may be one here or one there who believes that the great commission to "go and preach" divorces the minister from the financial campaigns of the church, as, for example, the raising of Sabbath school, Ingathering, and related goals or promoting various projects of the church, such as raising money for churches and church school buildings, the payment of church school teachers' salaries, welfare centers, and the like. I believe this kind of work is just as much a part of the gospel commission as the preaching of the word. The great commission embodies every phase of the church—preaching the message, winning souls, and the financial support of the work in all the world.
"Ministers must also impress upon the people the importance of bearing other burdens in connection with the work of God. No one is exempt from the work of benevolence. The people must be taught that every department of the cause of God should enlist their support and engage their interest. The great missionary field is open before us, and this subject must be agitated, agitated, again and again. The people must be made to understand that it is not the hearers, but the doers of the word, who will gain eternal life. And they are to be taught also that those who become partakers of the grace of Christ are not only to communicate of their substance for the advancement of the truth, but are to give themselves to God without reserve."—Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 105, 106.
Satan is continually working to divert the minds of God's people from their responsibilities in the financial support of the evangelistic endeavors of the church and the finishing of the task. He directs their minds to the material things of life.
Sometimes we as ministers, if not alert and watchful, could become entangled in the tempter's wiles. As Seventh-day Adventist ministers and workers, we need constantly to remind ourselves of our divine assignment—the finishing of God's work and to remind our church members of their privilege and duty to faithfulness in supporting our program.
"As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God.
"Says the great deceiver: 'We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath, reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man's salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also. . . .
Satan's Scheme to Rob God
"'Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God's cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God's people.' "—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 472-474.
It is encouraging to study the growth of our work in the light of the consecrated efforts of our ministry and workers in related lines of activity throughout the world. These men are laboring in nearly every country in hundreds of languages and dialects. We are now a mature organization—over one hundred years old. Our membership has grown rapidly, especially during the past few years. What took sixty-three years to accomplish with reference to our membership, during the years 1863 to 1927, took only five years between the years 1950 to 1955, and the membership continues to grow until it now exceeds one million.
It is true that we are working in nearly every country of the world, but the task within those countries is still very great. Think of the dark counties in the United States and the millions in other lands where so many have not so much as heard of Seventh-day Adventists. Surely we have a great work before us as a people.
The Seventh-day Adventist denomination early in its experience adopted the Bible tithing plan. This plan was unique in that all of the tithe money was paid into the treasury and used solely for the support of the ministry. Ministers of other denominations recognized, and still do, the value of the tithing plan. But they have generally been unable to secure the consent of their people to pay a tenth of their income into their churches. Our ministers find it unnecessary to hold bazaars or raffles or church dinners to provide for their salaries.
Freewill Offerings
The freewill offerings which come from the Sabbath schools and Ingathering and from special offerings during the year, are sent through the regular channels to the General Conference treasury. In turn, the General Conference at each Autumn Council appropriates funds for the world work to provide for ministers' salaries and related expenses in mission lands. As new workers are won to the church and the offerings increased, additional funds become available for increases in appropriations. This enables the fields to strengthen and expand their work. Our system of finance, as established by this people, has proved a great blessing through the years.
There has been an urge on the part of some to change the method of raising funds for the various needs in the churches. I recall that at one Autumn Council of the General Conference it was proposed that all church offerings be combined and divided among the various interests of the work, such as foreign missions, home missions, church expense, et cetera. After careful study of the suggestion, it was voted to continue the program of taking individual offerings for specified purposes as has been the custom through the years.
It has been noticed that where the individual members are visited personally, by the pastor or those appointed by him, and invited to pledge a specified amount for specific church offerings weekly, the total received doubled or trebled, so there was little or no promotion in the church on the Sabbath where this plan is followed. However, it is believed that our members should always be free to designate where their offerings should be used, rather than for a committee to make this decision.
I believe from my observation that the members of our church love to give to the cause. I heard of a pastor who expressed his fears that the members of his church would become impoverished by giving too much, and therefore they needed to be protected from what he termed "excessive giving." Actually, I have never heard of any of our people who have suffered because they contributed to the cause of God. But I have heard the testimony of many, many church members that when they paid an honest tithe, God blessed them financially and in every other way.
Although our members are not a wealthy people, their liberal contributions have not impoverished them. Said George I. Butler, one-time president of the General Conference, "We have watched this matter quite closely for twenty-five years. We have never seen that those who pay tithe grow poor in so doing. We have never seen them in the poorhouse or objects of charity. But we have seen many who dodged tithing become paupers and in deep affliction, helpless and most needy." David's experience was the same. Said he, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25).
The Joy and Satisfaction in Giving
The promulgation of the plan of salvation actually does not require our money, since God has all the riches at His disposal to finish His work in the earth. However, He is still using human instrumentalities to complete the great task. "My son, give me thine heart," is the appeal God makes to His followers today. He desires that they shall be set aglow with a living flame and that they will find joy in giving to His great cause, that the gospel of Jesus Christ may be proclaimed in all the earth.
"The experience of apostolic days will come to us when we wholeheartedly accept God's principle of benevolence."—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 146.
"The spiritual health and prosperity of the church is dependent in a great degree upon her systematic benevolence. It is like the lifeblood which must flow through the whole being, vitalizing every member of the body."—Ibid., vol. 3, p. 405.
The pastors of our churches occupy most important positions in the carrying out of the great commission. The Lord has laid upon them heavy burdens. They are the leaders and keepers of the flock, and on them rests the work of evangelism and financial support of the cause.
We have a wonderful message. It is a triumphant message; it reaches into every country, knows no boundaries, has found its way into untold numbers of homes and touched and convicted hearts and won them to Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
Let us keep before us the fact that the great commission embodies every phase of the church—preaching and teaching and finance. These various phases of endeavor are all tied together and are inseparable and interdependent upon one another. We have before us a great task, but with God to lead us we shall be successful in finishing His work.
I want to pay tribute to the conference officers and to the pastors of our churches for their loyalty and devotion to a great cause. It is through their consecrated efforts in soul winning and keeping before the members of their churches the work in all the world and encouraging them to give liberally for the finishing of the task, that such remarkable progress has been made in the ingathering of souls from every land of earth for the kingdom of God.
