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Giving Up Heaven

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Think about this. The children of Israel were determined to be God’s chosen people, rulers of the world, as they saw themselves, on their own terms. This led them to refuse Jesus as the Messiah. Further still, it led them to kill Him. There are people today, all over the world, who feel the same way and they exist even in our church. They want to go to heaven, but on their terms.

Imagine giving up heaven for a job that pays six figures and allows a person to travel all over the world on the company’s dime, but requires that he work one Sabbath a month. Or, not paying tithe for a long time to save up for that fancy sports car he has always wanted? Or, giving up heaven because he can’t give up that cup of coffee or latté? What about a big juicy steak with some equally juicy jumbo shrimp on the side? Or, a handful of M&Ms, a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Or, giving up heaven for your spouse or child?

Friends, it isn’t about what we give up, it’s the giving up—obedience or disobedience. The Bible tells us that there is nothing we should put ahead of God, not even our family. We can rationalize all we want, but just because we need a home doesn’t mean we have to buy a mansion. We need transportation, but we don’t need a Rolls Royce. We need food, but we need to consume food that is healthy for our bodies, and does not make us crave “the fleshpots of Egypt.” We need clothes, but we don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for the latest fashions so that we can fit in with the world. What keeps me from God, doesn’t have to be big; just that little darling sin I can’t seem to let go of.

“The Saviour of the world … laid aside His glory and clothed His divinity with humanity. He became the meek and lowly Jesus. He left His riches and glory in heaven and became poor that we, through His poverty, might be made rich. … But selfish men will repine and murmur if called to leave their little earthly treasure for Christ’s sake … ! No one can appreciate the blessings of redemption unless he feels that he can joyfully afford to make any and every sacrifice for the love of Christ. …

“You know but little of real sacrifice and genuine denial of self. … The young man who asked Jesus what he should do that he might have eternal life was answered: ‘Keep the commandments.’

“He confidently and proudly replied: ‘All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?’ Jesus looked pityingly upon the young man; He loved him, and He knew the words He spoke would forever separate the youth from Himself. Nevertheless, Jesus touched the plague spot of his soul. He said to him: ‘Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.’ The young man wanted heaven, but not enough to withdraw his affections from his earthly treasure. … His decision was to give up heaven and to cling to his earthly treasure. How many are now making the very same decision which fixed the destiny of this young man?” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 219, 220

Story – Saved from the Flood

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Night had fallen. Everybody in the little town was asleep. Everybody, that is, except the policeman, who was keeping his watch all alone in the police station.

Nobody dreamed that danger was near. No serious trouble had come to the town in years. There was no sign of trouble now, except that the level of the water in the river was a little higher than usual. But then, the water often rose and fell without anyone’s noticing it. Sometimes, especially in the hot dry summer, the river was merely a little trickle, way down at the bottom of its forty-foot-high banks.

The night wore on. There was no sound save the beating of the rain on the roofs and roadways, and the occasional barking of a dog.

Suddenly the telephone rang sharp and loud in the police station.

Startled a bit, the policeman picked up the receiver. “Hello,” he said.

The words that came over the phone shocked him.

“Flood warning!” said a voice. “Lots of water rushing your way. Will reach you in thirty minutes. Get the people out of all houses on low-lying ground. There’s no time to lose.”

A flood! In thirty minutes! How little time to warn everybody! How quickly he must work!

The policeman sounded the alarm, and in an instant the whole town was alive. A few minutes later men were hurrying to the houses down by the river, waking the sleeping families and helping them move what they could of their goods to higher ground. There just wasn’t time to salvage many things.

Some of the people, just roused from sleep, didn’t want to move, especially in the middle of the night, with rain pouring down. They couldn’t believe that a flood was only a few minutes away. But the policeman and the fireman and other friends hurried them out to safety.

Then it came. About one o’clock in the morning, a wall of water, full of uprooted trees, broken houses, and dead animals, rushed by. On its churning surface were tables, chairs, pianos, oil drums, and even cars! It hit the bridge in the middle of town and carried it away as though it had been made of paper. It overflowed its banks and filled all the low-lying land nearby. Some of the houses which people had left but a few minutes before were lifted off their foundations and sent sailing downstream. Others simply collapsed, fell apart, and were carried away.

By this time hundreds of people were standing on high ground near the river, peering through the darkness at the terrible scene before them. How glad they were that nobody was in those houses that were being smashed and carried away by the flood!

Nobody?

“Look!” cried someone, pointing over the swirling water. “Surely that was a light! Over there; look!”

“It can’t be,” said others. “There’s nobody there. There’s no light.”

“But there it is again! It must be a candle. Somebody keeps lighting it, and it blows out.”

“So it is. Whose house is it?”

“That’s Mrs. Smith’s house. Her husband is in the Army, and she has four little children with her. Didn’t anybody warn them?”

Somehow in the darkness and the excitement that house had been missed. Now it was surrounded by wild, rushing water which threatened any moment to carry it away.

“Give me a rope!” cried some brave soul. “I’ll swim over there.”

They tied a rope around the man, and he set off. But he couldn’t get anywhere near. It was impossible. The swift current carried him away, and it was only with great difficulty that he was hauled back. Another man offered to go but he also failed. A third made the attempt, but exhausted, had to give up.

Meanwhile, out there in the darkness a brave mother was making a gallant fight for her life and for the lives of her children.

As no one had called to warn her of the coming flood, she and her children were all fast asleep when the first rush of water came sweeping into their house. Awakened by shouts and the roar of the flood waters going by, she jumped out of bed to find herself standing in two feet of water, which covered the bedroom floor and was fast rising. Suddenly realizing what had happened, she grabbed her four children and lifted them one by one onto the top of a large cupboard. Then as the water rose above the beds, the table, the chairs, she clambered up on top of the cupboard herself, taking with her a candle and matches, a dry blanket, a bottle of milk, a knife, an old chisel, and, of all things, a flatiron!

Now they were all huddled together on top of the cupboard, wondering just how high the water would rise. Then it was that this dear, brave mother began to pray that God would spare her and her children, and if not, let them die together.

An hour passed by. Two hours. It was now three o’clock in the morning. They could feel the water close to the top of the cupboard. Suddenly one of the inside walls of the house gave way and fell with a great splash.

“The end must be near now,” this brave mother said to herself. But she was not ready to give up yet.

Now it was that she made use of the tools she had so wisely brought with her, thinking that she might in some way need them.

Just over their heads was the ceiling, made of thin boards. “If I could just cut through it,” she said to herself, “we could climb up on the rafters. Then we would be another two feet above the water.”

Seizing the flatiron and the blunt chisel, she began chipping away at the board, splitting it off in little pieces until she had made a hole two feet long by nine inches wide. Through this tiny holy she pushed her children, one by one, telling each to sit astride a rafter. She was afraid they might fall through the frail board if they were to stand on it. Then she pulled herself up through the hole and sat with them there, waiting, wondering, praying, while below, the water swirled through the house.

Four o’clock. Five o’clock. Six o’clock. It was getting light now. And what a scene! The great brown torrent was still surging by, with bits of broken houses and furniture floating on its surface.

Hundreds of people who had watched all night were looking anxiously at the one little house still standing in the midst of the flood. Only its roof could be seen now, with the tops of some of its windows. Surely everybody in it must have drowned long ago!

But no! As they looked they could see that someone was cutting a hole in the roof!

The brave little mother was making her last attempt to save her children. She was lifting them out onto the roof!

A shout goes up from the people and tears come to many eyes. But the little family is still in grave danger. At any moment the house could begin to come apart under the pressure of the swirling water.

“Let me try again,” says a strong swimmer. “I think I can make it now.”

They tie a rope around his waist and he sets off through the raging waters. He is swept downstream, but fights his way up again. At last, after a mighty effort, he reaches the house. Another shout goes up from the people anxiously watching on the bank. He has gotten there in time! The family may yet be saved.

Tying the rope securely, he makes his way in through a window. The large cupboard, on which the family had waited so long, and by which they had climbed into the loft, is gone. He signals back for a ladder. Soon another swimmer, aided by the rope, is on his way with one. Another swimmer follows. Soon one of them is seen swimming from the house with a little girl on his shoulders.

Another mighty cheer rends the morning air. Then another and another as one by one the children are brought by strong hands along the rope, strained to the uttermost by the fury of the torrent.

Then, as all brave captains are last to leave a sinking ship, this dear mother is the last to leave her falling house. When all her four children have been taken to safety she comes herself and, with the help of her rescuers, makes her way to land. What a cheer the people give for her!

Her children won’t soon forget how they were saved from death that dreadful night. It was a mother’s faith against a flood.

The Story Book, Character Building Stories for Children, RHPA, ©1964, 81–89

God’s Call to Modern Apostates

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Christ, during His earthly ministry, emphasized the binding claims of the Sabbath. He showed reverence for the institution He Himself had given. In His days, the Sabbath had become so perverted that its observance reflected the character of selfish men rather than the character of God. Christ set aside the false teaching which had misrepresented Him. Although followed with merciless hostility by the rabbis, He went straight forward, keeping the Sabbath according to the law of God.

In unmistakable language He testified to His regard for the law. “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets,” He said, “I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17–19, RSV

The great enemy of man’s happiness has made the Sabbath of the fourth commandment an object of special attack. Satan says, “I will work at cross purposes with God. I will set aside God’s memorial, the seventh-day Sabbath. I will show the world that the day sanctified by God has been changed. I will obliterate the memory of it. I will place in its stead a day that does not bear the credentials of God, a day that cannot be a sign between God and His people. Through my vicegerent, I will exalt myself. The first day will be extolled, and the Protestant world will receive this spurious sabbath as genuine. I will be the prince of this world. I will so control minds that God’s Sabbath shall be a special object of contempt. A sign? I will make the observance of the seventh day a sign of disloyalty to the authorities of earth. Human laws will be made so stringent that men and women will not dare to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. For fear of being without food and clothing, they will join the world in transgressing God’s law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.” Through setting up a false sabbath, the enemy thought “to change times and laws.” But has he really succeeded in changing God’s law? He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, has declared of the seventh-day Sabbath: “It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations.” “It is a sign … forever.” Exodus 31:13, 17. The changed signpost is pointing the wrong way, but God has not changed. He is just as jealous for His law now as in the days of Ahab and Elijah. …

In the closing work of God on earth, the standard of His law will be again exalted. False religion may prevail, the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of, darkness may spread over the world, and the popular current may be turned against the truth; but in the hour of greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instruments to bear a message that will not be silenced. In the places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High, the voice of stern rebuke will be heard. Boldly will men of God’s appointment denounce the union of the church with the world. Earnestly will they call on men and women to turn from a man-made institution to the observance of the true Sabbath. “Fear God, and give glory to Him,” they will proclaim to every nation, “for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth … . If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14:7–10. The world will be arraigned before the bar of Infinite Justice to receive sentence. …

The test will come to every soul. The observance of the false sabbath will be urged. The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance

and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness will appear in the shame of their nakedness.

Scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth. In Africa, in Europe, in South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. In the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to cause “all” to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false day, these faithful ones, “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish,” will “shine as lights in the world.” Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:15, RSV. The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine. From Splendor to Shadow, 96–100

Everything Was Given

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“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell (sheol), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139:7–10

The Mariana Trench

One hundred twenty-four miles east of the Mariana Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean lies the Mariana Trench. It is part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction system. It coincides with the subduction zones that form the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, which is subducted beneath the Mariana Plate.

The Trench is more than 1,580 miles long and an average of 43 miles wide. Its deepest areas are Nero Deep, 31,693 feet; Challenger Deep, 36,201 feet; and Sirena Deep, 35,463. The temperature at the bottom of the Trench is 35–39°F.

The first descent to the bottom of the Trench occurred on January 23, 1960, making a record dive of 35,814 feet into Challenger Deep. On March 26, 2012, the submersible Deepsea Challenger made a dive to 35,756 feet, setting a new world record depth for a solo descent.

In 2009, the Trench was established as a US National Monument. The Mariana Trench Marine National Monument encompasses 95,216 square miles of submerged land and waters within the Mariana Archipelago. Although it includes some of the Mariana Trench, it does not encompass Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Trench.

Source: britannica.com/place/Mariana-Trench; wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench

Outer Space

Earth ends, and outer space begins at the Kármán line, approximately 62 miles straight up from the surface of the planet. However, because the Kármán line is partly a reality and partly a human construct, scientists continue to debate the actual distance, which could range from 18.5 miles to 1 million miles.

The physical aspect of the Kármán line roughly marks the altitude where traditional aircraft can no longer fly. Commercial aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 42,000 feet, and helicopters, both civilian and military, have a maximum altitude of 40,280 feet. However, US military aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 50,000 feet, except the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird, and the X-15. They, along with the Soviet MIG-31 and MIG E-266M, can reach altitudes as high as 354,200 feet (67 miles).

Source: simpleflying.com/how-high-can-military-planes-fly; Wikipedia.org/wiki- Kármán_line; astronomy.com/space-exploration/the-karman-line-where-does-space-begin

To Every Corner

According to NASA, the Earth’s radius is 3,963 miles at the equator, its widest point due to the equatorial bulge, and 3,950 miles at the poles. This results in an Earth diameter of 7,913 miles at the equator, but it is slightly smaller, 7,900 miles when measured from pole to pole. The equatorial circumference of Earth is 24,901 miles, but the meridional circumference (North Pole to South Pole) is 24,860 miles.

Source: space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth

The Eruption Heard Around the World

From May 20 to October 21, 1883, the island of Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait experienced repeated volcanic eruptions. On August 27, 1883, the most destructive of the eruptions—registering as a six on the VEI (volcanic explosivity index) destroyed over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago and caused it to collapse in upon itself, creating a caldera. It is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history.

The explosion was heard 1,930 miles away in Perth, Australia, and 3,000 miles away in Rodrigues near Mauritius (an island country off the southeastern coast of East Africa).

The acoustic pressure wave circled the globe more than three times, rupturing the eardrums of sailors aboard the RMS Norham Castle just off the coast of Sumatra, 630 miles away. The explosion generated multiple tsunamis and killed at least 38,417 people, including 3,000 people, the entire population of the island of Sebesi, 7.5 miles from Krakatoa.

Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_or_Krakatoa

“The coming of Christ to our world was a great event, not only to this world, but to all the worlds in the universe of God. Before the heavenly intelligences He was to take upon Himself our nature, to be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet to leave an example of perfect purity and unblemished character.

“Satan and his angels exulted as they discovered that the Son of God had taken upon Himself the nature of man, and had come to be man’s substitute, to engage in the conflict in our behalf. The human family had been overpowered by the deception of the enemy … .

“Satan gloried in the opportunity of besieging the Son of God with fierce temptations. Because He had taken upon Himself the nature of man, Satan deemed that his victory was certain, and with every malignant device in his power he strove to overcome Christ. The steadfast resistance of Christ to the temptations of the enemy brought the whole confederacy of evil to war against Him. Evil men and evil angels united their forces against the Prince of peace.

“The issues at stake were beyond the comprehension of men, and the temptations that assailed Christ were as much more intense and subtle than those which assail man as His character was purer and more exalted than is the character of man in his moral and physical defilement. In His conflict with the prince of darkness in this atom of a world, Christ had to meet the whole confederacy of evil, the united forces of the adversary of God and man; but at every point He met the tempter, and put him to flight. Christ was conqueror over the powers of darkness, and took the infinite risk of consenting to war with the enemy, that He might conquer him in our behalf.

“The Redeemer of the world clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might reach humanity; for, in order to bring to the world salvation, it was necessary that humanity and divinity should be united. Divinity needed humanity, that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man, and humanity needed divinity, that a power from above might restore man to the likeness of God.

“Christ was God, but He did not appear as God. He veiled the tokens of divinity, which had commanded the homage of angels and called forth the adoration of the universe of God. He made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. For our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.

“He humbled Himself to pass through man’s experiences, and He would not turn aside from the plan by which salvation could come to man. Knowing all the steps in the path of His humiliation, He refused not to descend step by step to the depths of man’s woe, that He might make expiation [atonement] for the sins of the condemned, perishing world. What humility was this? It amazed the angels. Tongue can never describe it. Pen can never portray it. The imagination cannot take it in. Sinless and exalted by nature, the Son of God consented to take the habiliments of humanity, to become one with the fallen race. The eternal Word consented to be made flesh. God became man.

“But He stepped still lower; He humbled Himself to bear insult, reproach, accusation, and shameful abuse. In the world which He had made, which was sustained by the word of His power, there seemed to be no room for Him. He had to flee from one place to another until His life work was accomplished. He was betrayed by one of His followers and denied by another. He was mocked and taunted. He was crowned with thorns, and forced to bear the burden of the cross.

“He was not insensible to ignominy and contempt; He submitted to it, but He felt its bitterness as no other being could feel it. Pure, holy, and undefiled, He was yet arraigned as a criminal before the eyes of the world. From the highest exaltation, the adorable Redeemer took step after step in the path of humiliation. He consented to die in the sinner’s stead, that by a life of obedience, man might escape the penalty of the law.

“He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death. And what a death! It was the most shameful, the most cruel—the death upon the cross as a malefactor. He died not as a hero in the eyes of men, loaded with honors; He died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the Earth—died a lingering death, exposed to the tauntings and revilings of a debased and profligate mob.

“ ‘All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.’ He was numbered with the transgressors, and even His kinsmen according to the flesh disowned Him. … He expired amidst derision. But all His sufferings were counted as of small account in consideration of the result He was working out in behalf of man, and for the good of the whole universe.

“He expired on the cross exclaiming, ‘It is finished,’ and that cry rang through every world, and through heaven itself. The great contest between Christ, the Prince of life, and Satan, the prince of darkness, was practically over, and Christ was conqueror. His death answered the question as to whether there was self-denial with the Father and the Son.

“Through the death of Christ, a door of hope was opened for fallen man. Man was under sentence of death for the transgression of the law of God. He was under condemnation as a traitor, as a rebel; but Christ came to be his substitute, to die as a malefactor, to suffer the penalty of the traitors, bearing the weight of their sins upon His divine soul. He descended lower and lower, till there were no lower depths of humiliation to sound, in order that He might lift up those who would believe in Him, and cleanse the guilty from moral defilement, and impart to them His own righteousness. He died to make an atonement, to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at His right hand.

“Through His life upon Earth, He scattered blessings wherever He went. Though at His word legions of angels would render Him homage, yet He walked the Earth unhonored, unconfessed. In place of praise, He met reproach. He walked among men as one of the poor and lowly. Though He healed the sick, relieved the oppressed, bound up the brokenhearted, yet few called Him blessed, and the great of the Earth passed Him by with disdain.

“As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as God He was a fountain of life to the world. He could have withstood the advances of death and refused to come under its dominion, but voluntarily He laid down His life that He might bring life and immortality to light. He bore the sin of the world, endured the penalty, yielded up His life as a sacrifice, that man should not eternally die. Contrast His suffering and humiliation with the riches of His glory, with the wealth of praise pouring forth from immortal tongues, with the anthems of adoration, with the homage of millions of holy angels in the heights of the sanctuary, and seek to comprehend what manner of love inspired the heart of Jesus.

“How much has God loved the race of men?—Look to Calvary. As you behold Jesus upon the cross, does not the heinous character of sin appear? It was sin that caused the death of God’s dear Son, and sin is the transgression of the law. Says the prophet: ‘Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. … It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied … .’ ” The Signs of the Times, January 5, 1915

To the deepest parts of land or sea, to the highest points and farthest distances of the sky or universe, man barely can comprehend the love of God in His creation, nor, even faintly, the love that led Him to sacrifice His Son for man’s salvation.

“The love of God is so deep, so full, that it could only be expressed in giving for our sakes His own beloved Son to poverty, to shame, to humiliation, to mockery, and to death. He was the most costly and precious offering that could be given to the world, and in Him all heaven was given.” The Bible Echo, November 25, 1895

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39

Sowing and Reaping

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Earlier this year, I determined to study the concept of sowing and reaping. Perhaps I thought of it while setting out my tomato plants and anticipating a harvest of homegrown deliciousness. Or, it could also have been when Pastor John mentioned the concept in one of his sermons. But as I studied, I came across this definitive statement from Inspiration:

“The Lord has made it a part of His plan that man’s reaping shall be according to his sowing.” Healthful Living, 25

The Plan

The “plan” referred to in this quote is the plan of salvation, which adds weighty importance to the significance of being acutely aware of what we sow, for clearly, our eternal destiny depends on it.

Regardless of the cause that provoked this study, I began with Galatians 6:7, 8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

An Important Concept

Early in my study, I realized that this is a fairly common concept mentioned many times in Scripture.

Reaping what we sow was an important concept for the Apostle Paul. Not only did he write about it in his letters to the Galatians and the Colossians, but he also mentioned it in his second letter to the Corinthians:

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

“But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:25

The obvious corollary to that is that he who does right will also be repaid accordingly. We are left to determine for ourselves which kind of repayment we will receive based on the type of actions we commit and the kind of seed we sow.

Once again, we see that it is up to us to determine what kind of crop we will have.

Job

Moses also alluded to this concept when he recorded Job’s experience.

We generally recognize Job’s three friends as “miserable comforters.” However, the dubious counsel they gave Job occasionally contained a gem of truth. In one of Eliphaz’s diatribes, he stated, “Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Job 4:8

Even though it is clear from the context that Eliphaz meant this as an indictment of Job’s character, implying that Job’s troubles were the result of his supposed iniquitous behavior, if we remove it from the context, it remains a gem of truth. Although Eliphaz neglected to state it, the opposite is also true—those who till the soil with righteousness will receive a righteous reward.

Inspiration has much to say about this concept as well, revealing that there are many different aspects to sowing and reaping.

By Beholding

“You see that your brethren do not come up to the Bible standard, that there are defects in them, and you dwell upon these defects. You feed upon them instead of feeding upon Christ … .” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 334

If we continually and consistently dwell upon the faults of others, it is a universal law that those faults will become ingrained in our characters. But if we look ever to Jesus, the faults of others will fade as we will see more clearly our own faults and realize the necessity of change. “[For] by beholding we become changed. Let us look to Jesus and consider the loveliness of His character, and by beholding, we shall become changed into the same likeness.” Our High Calling, 334

There is a saying that you are what you eat. That is a statement of an obvious truth—in more ways than one. But it is also true that your character will be molded by whatever it is that you allow to occupy the avenues of the soul—your senses.

A More Detailed Example

“The soul does not become more and more like Christ by beholding evil, but like the evil which it beholds. The same love of self, the same indulgence of self, the same hastiness of Spirit, the same petulance of temper, the same sensitiveness and pride of opinion, the same unwillingness to receive counsel, the same unsanctified, independent judgment, will be manifest in those who criticize as in those who are criticized. They will act as if they had not Christ as their pattern and example.” The Review and Herald, August 15, 1893

“Those who feel it their prerogative to criticize their fellow men are doing the work of the enemy. The Lord has set none to correct the supposed errors of others; for by beholding these imperfections they themselves become harsh and self-centered. They compare themselves with themselves, and measure themselves among themselves. There are jealous and sensitive souls who foster their pride until, like an inflamed wound, it cannot bear the slightest touch. They fancy that they have been slighted, when no slight exists, until they create in themselves the very evils they imagine in others.” Ibid., November 21, 1899

So, You Reap What You Sow

In our original text from Galatians, Paul wrote, “He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” The obvious question to ask from this statement is, What does it mean to sow to the flesh?

“Every seed sown produces a harvest of its kind. So it is in human life. We all need to sow the seeds of compassion, sympathy, and love; for we shall reap what we sow. Every characteristic of selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, every act of self-indulgence, will bring forth a like harvest. He who lives for self is sowing to the flesh, and of the flesh he will reap corruption.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 84

So, what we plant and cultivate in our hearts is what will grow and become our characters.

The following passage contrasts sowing to the flesh with sowing for a harvest of good.

“Fellow laborers, we are each sowing seed in the fields of life. As is the seed, so will be the harvest. If we sow distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love, bitterness of thought and feeling, we shall reap bitterness to our own souls. If we manifest kindness, love, tender thought for the feelings of others, we shall receive the same in return.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 30

The Harvest Sown in this World is Carried into the Next

“Those who have sought for the development and perfection of Christian character by exercising their faculties in good works will, in the world to come, reap that which they have sown. The work begun upon earth will reach its consummation in that higher and holier life to endure throughout eternity.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 83

What we need is to be educated in the perfecting of Christian character. Mrs. White gives us counsel that is useful in this education—counsel, as you might expect, that deals with the universal concept that the nature and quality of the harvest is the result of the earlier sowing.

“By the laws of God in nature, effect follows cause with unvarying certainty. The reaping testifies to the sowing. Here, no pretense is tolerated. Men may deceive their fellow men and may receive praise and compensation for service which they have not rendered. But in nature, there can be no deception. On the unfaithful husbandman the harvest passes sentence of condemnation. And in the highest sense, this is true also in the spiritual realm. It is in appearance, not in reality, that evil succeeds. The child who plays truant from school, the youth who is slothful in his studies, the clerk or apprentice who fails of serving the interests of his employer, the man in any business or profession who is untrue to his highest responsibilities, may flatter himself that, so long as the wrong is concealed, he is gaining an advantage. But not so; he is cheating himself. The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny, both for this life and for the life to come.

“The harvest is a reproduction of the seed sown. Every seed yields fruit after its kind. So it is with the traits of character we cherish. Selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, self-indulgence, reproduce themselves, and the end is wretchedness and ruin. ‘He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:8. Love, sympathy, and kindness yield fruitage of blessing, a harvest that is imperishable.” Education, 108, 109

A Different Aspect of the Same Concept

“Every day, we are sowing some kind of seed. If we sow the seeds of unbelief, we shall reap unbelief; if we sow pride, we shall reap pride; if we sow stubbornness, we shall reap stubbornness, ‘for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ ” Lift Him Up, 266

The following passage, published over a century ago, provides an accurate description of this concept as it is applied to society today.

“The widespread iniquity prevalent today may in a great degree be attributed to a failure to study and obey the Scriptures, for when the word of God is set aside, its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected. Men sow to the flesh, and of the flesh reap corruption.” Prophets and Kings, 624

Our Free Will

It is in the exercise of our free will that we sow. Whether we sow rebellion or obedience determines the nature of the crop.

“Lucifer took the position that as a result of the law of God, wrong existed in heaven and on this earth. This brought against God’s government the charge of being arbitrary. But this is a falsehood framed by the author of all falsehoods. God’s government is a government of free will, and there is no act of rebellion or obedience which is not an act of free will.” The Signs of the Times, June 5, 1901

By transgressing God’s law, regardless of the method or manner, we are sowing seeds that will yield a failed crop—one destined by universal law to be only discord, anarchy, and ruin.

Remember, part of the Lord’s plan is that man will reap according to how he has sown.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

The Sanctified Home

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If we are ready when Jesus comes, He will take us with Him to heaven. Though we know very little about the social and family arrangements in heaven, we do know that angels are social beings, and Jesus has said that we would be like them. The important thing, however, is to understand that how we live here—as families, spouses, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and brothers and sisters in Christ—will determine whether or not we will be there. What we do know is that heaven, and ultimately the new earth, will be populated with a diverse congregation of people, all united by their love for God.

Happiness is where the heart is.

Many people feel that their home is where they will find happiness, and I hope that is true. But there is a more profound reason behind why God instituted the home and families, and Mrs. White gives us that reason when she wrote that our homes should be “a little heaven to go to heaven in.” (The Review and Herald, April 21, 1891). God established homes on earth as the practical classroom in which we are prepared to live as the saints will live in heaven. And if everyone in our home is living in this way, then our earthly home will exude the atmosphere of heaven. Therefore, learning how to have a sanctified home here would be a study of great importance.

To begin our study, let’s ask ourselves this question, “If Jesus were to come right now, would we feel perfectly at ease in heaven?” If the way we speak and interact with those in our family here would cause us to answer “no” to this question, then we have some work to do to be ready for heaven. Now is the time when we must individually work to develop a Christlike life and character (Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 206, 207; The Upward Look, 374). Our earthly home is where we can practice living as Christ did in His earthly life.

Mrs. White said that “it was heaven to be in Jesus’ presence” (The Ministry of Healing, 18). Most people think that heaven is a place with golden streets, pearly gates, and mansions, and that is all true. But heaven is heaven because Jesus is there. So, if we allow Him to dwell in our hearts and transform our lives, then we will have heaven within us every day.

Some homes are long-standing battlefields. Parents and children alike fight with one another, sometimes physically bruising and breaking the body, and sometimes with words that wither the spirit and cause lifelong desolation to the heart. God will not allow anyone who chooses to retain their selfish nature to be in heaven.

And so, it began.

When Lucifer rebelled against God and His government, war raged in heaven (Revelation 12:7–9). Christ and His angels fought against the devil and his angels until they were cast out of heaven. Thus began the great controversy—the war for the souls of humanity—between Christ and Satan. This isn’t just a story in the Bible; you can see it happening throughout the world. But worst of all, this war is being waged in our hearts and homes every day. Jesus seeks to make every home a little piece of heaven on earth, thereby saving every member of every family. Satan seeks to destroy everyone and everything.

Heaven, no matter where it is.

“No unpleasant words are spoken in heaven. There, no unkind thoughts are cherished. There envy, evil surmising, hatred, and strife find no place. Perfect harmony pervades the heavenly courts.” The Upward Look, 163

What a beautiful description of our earthly homes if only we would surrender our hearts to be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

“What a precious privilege is this—that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ! What love, what matchless love, that, sinners and aliens as we are, we may be brought back to God and adopted into his family! …

“To everyone who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of heaven. …

“God requires of us perfect obedience. We are to purify ourselves, even as He is pure. By keeping His commandments, we are to reveal our love for the Supreme Ruler of the universe.” The Review and Herald, September 27, 1906

Me, me, me, I, I, I.

Strife comes when we say, “I want to do things my way. I want what I want.” This attitude is born from selfishness, which is the foundation of our naturally sinful self. In a home where family members all express selfishness and the desire to have things just as they want them, strife is the sure result because everyone sees themselves as the most important. If we want our homes to be like heaven, there can be no strife, for there is no strife in heaven.

When I fully surrender myself, the Holy Spirit can then do His work of transformation, and my selfish nature no longer holds the governing place in my life. Instead, my selfish nature has been transformed to respond to the government of God—one of love that loves God supremely and esteems others above myself.

Yes, he knows.

We live in a world cursed by sin and filled with strife and troubles of every kind. For millennia, mankind has dreamed and longed for heaven. He sings of its beauties and marvels, he reads Mrs. White’s description of what she saw when taken there in vision, and we plead in prayer that we might soon be there, yet it remains beyond our reach.

“He [Satan] knew that the value of heaven far exceeded the anticipation and appreciation of fallen man. The most costly treasures of the world, he knew, would not compare with its worth. …

“He had knowledge of the inestimable value of eternal riches that man had not. …

Satan knew what he had lost.” Confrontation, 30

Yes, Satan knows exactly how wonderful heaven is. And he is determined that you and I won’t have the opportunity to understand how wonderful it is nor how to get there. He fills the world with excitement, glamor, glitter, addiction, troubles, hardships, and selfishness. Our eyes are blinded to the beauty of heaven by the bright and shiny things around us. Our ears cannot hear heavenly voices for the continual cacophony of sounds heard throughout the world. He sends temptations that will speak to each one of us until it is nigh impossible for us to feel the wooing of the Holy Spirit. Satan’s philosophy is, why would they want heaven when I can make them feel so happy and satisfied here? But are we truly happy and satisfied?

“What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

The Bible tells us that the day is coming when everything in this world that we possess or want to possess will be worthless. Ezekiel says:

“They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they will not satisfy their souls, nor fill their stomachs because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.” Ezekiel 7:19

Nothing of this world can make up for losing heaven.

Destroy the family and …

“Well does Satan know what heaven is, and what the influence of the angels is. His work is to bring into every family the cruel elements of self-will, harshness, selfishness. Thus, he seeks to destroy the happiness of the family. …

“Let the father and mother always be guarded in their words and actions. The husband is to treat his wife, the mother of his children, with due respect, and the wife is to love and reverence her husband. How can she do this if he treats her like a servant, to be dictated to, ordered about, scolded, found fault with before the children? He is forcing her to dislike him and even to hate him.

“May God help fathers and mothers to open the windows of the soul heavenward and let the sunshine of Christ into the home life. Unless they do this, they will be surrounded by a mist and fog most injurious to spirituality.

“Fathers and mothers, bring sweetness and brightness and hopefulness into the lives of your children. Kindness and love will work wonders.” The Upward Look, 163

The devil brings contention and selfishness into every home and, if we are contentious and selfish at home, we will bring contention and selfishness into every other aspect of our lives, including church, work, friendships, and even gospel work.

Surrender. Now.

Alone, we are unable to prevent the devil from bringing these elements into our homes. However, when we surrender to the will of God, Satan no longer has control of our hearts. Jesus is waiting to give you the power to become His child. He longs to change your life and your home, and this is how He will do it.

To have a happy, sanctified home, we must have love. The whole world needs and wants love, but very few know how to get it. They try to force it, thinking it stems from a physical relationship or an overpowering feeling of desire. But you can’t buy it at the store, you can’t major in it in college, you can’t learn it on the job. No, there is only one source of true love, and 1 John 4:19 tells us what it is. “We love Him [God] because He first loved us.” God created us to be loving human beings and to love Him above all else. But sin changed us. No longer loving and pure, we are now selfish and sinful.

Too often, I meet people who are terribly discouraged because they have given love but have received none in return. Human beings can be so hard-hearted, and it seems no matter how much love you give, a hard heart does not reciprocate. It takes a long time for a hardened heart to realize what it needs; it may even take a long time for the Holy Spirit to soften a heart and help it accept God’s love. The only way to have true love in this world is by giving it away. And this is precisely what God did. The only remedy for a hardened heart is never-ending love.

Love is a precious gift we receive from Jesus. We only have love to give because He gives it to us. He gives it, and then we give it to somebody else. Giving and receiving love is one of the reasons we have heaven in our hearts and homes. However, to truly understand love, experience it, and share it, we must spend time every day with Jesus.

To understand how God’s love can change our hearts and homes, we must first understand that God created us because He wanted children to shower His love upon us and to receive love in return. But when Adam and Eve chose to believe the deceiver, God activated the plan of salvation which had existed from the foundation of the world. God gave all of heaven, everything He had, to save us. That plan culminated in Jesus’ death on the cross. God gave Himself, in the person of His Son, that They might save mankind from sin.

“God’s love for the world was not manifest because He sent His Son, but because He loved the world He sent His Son into the world … . Though sin had produced a gulf between man and his God, a divine benevolence provided a plan to bridge that gulf. And what material did He use? A part of Himself. …

“Had God given us less, we could not have been saved. But He gave to our world so abundantly that it could not be said that He could love us more. … God has exhausted His benevolence … in pouring out all heaven to man in one great gift. …

“God claims the whole of the affections of man, the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole mind, the whole strength. He lays claim to all that there is of man because He has poured out the whole treasure of heaven by giving us His all at once, reserving nothing greater that heaven can do.” Our High Calling, 12

“While we contemplate the cross, the Son of God assuming the mass of human guilt, the mystery of redemption seems wonderful. Jesus points us to the love of God; the Father provided this propitiation because He loved us, that there might be a medium through which He could be reconciled to man and man to Him. And our Lord, having committed Himself to the wonderful work of redemption, would withhold nothing necessary to the completion of His plan. He poured out all heaven to man in that one great gift.” The Signs of the Times, August 17, 1891

While the devil has a massive arsenal of spiritual weaponry to use against us in this war with God, God Himself has only one weapon that He uses to draw us to Him. Love. When we accept His love, then our preparation for heaven begins.

At the cross, I see what Jesus is like. And the more time I spend with Him, and the more I surrender to Him, the more like Him I will become—at home, at church, at work. My words and actions will be the same as His. I will love and care for my family as He loves and cares for them. Only in this way can I bring love into my home.

It rarely happens right away.

Have you ever considered just how long God waits before some of us respond? Think of all the happiness we could have had if only we had responded sooner. Marriage is often one-sided, with one spouse giving all while the other takes all and give little. Imagine if the relationship and home had been one where each spouse gave love to the other, regarding their spouse of greater value. Think of how happy the home could have been.

But even as you do your best, life is fraught with failure, and when you have trouble at home, there is Someone who understands. Jesus knows because He endured persecution from His family in His own home. He was accused all of His life of being born of fornication, an illegitimate son (John 8).

Sanctification means “to be made holy.” “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12. The context of this scripture makes it very evident that Paul is talking about the ten commandments. He says that the law is holy. If you want to live a holy life, then your life must be in harmony with God’s law, and your family must keep God’s law if, together with you, they are to be a holy family.

The prescription for a happy home.

There are many homes, even professed Christian homes, that, in just a very short time, could be transformed from being a living hell to being like heaven. Every family member can choose to keep all of God’s law. God’s law is the prescription for a happy home and family. Many of the commandments deal specifically with the family.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

In Ephesians, we find that the fifth commandment is called “the first commandment with promise.” The Lord says that if you keep this commandment, He will give you a long life. Regardless of our age, we need to ask the Lord to teach us how to honor and respect our parents.

In the Old Testament culture, if a child cursed their parents, they were stoned to death. This is important to remember because the way we treat our parents here is the way we will treat them in heaven. Heaven is a place where people honor each other and give deference and respect to each other.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

The seventh commandment recommends that honoring your spouse will bring happiness to your home. Adultery is the ultimate act of disrespect toward both your spouse and your vow to “cleave only unto” them (Genesis 2:24). Jesus said that “… ‘whoever divorces his wife [or husband], except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery … .’ ” Matthew 19:9

Jesus did not allow for divorce except in the case of adultery. Adultery is a terrible thing in a family—causing pain and leaving scars—preventing happiness in the home.

We do the same with God. We believe we can do what we like, and He will forgive us. It is true that if we are sincere in asking for forgiveness and are willing to repent of our sins, He will forgive; however, the scar remains on the soul for a lifetime, providing a doorway through which the devil can continually slip temptations.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.” Exodus 20:17

Coveting is like a wrecking ball to the happiness of your family. When we covet things outside our home and family, we place a higher value on things that are, and perhaps should be, out of our reach and care too little for what we have. My house is nice, but I’d rather have one like my neighbor. My wife is pretty and sweet, but my neighbor’s wife or the lady at the office is beautiful. My car is serviceable, but I’d rather have one that drives fast. The spirit of covetousness is a monster with an appetite that is never satisfied.

To have a happy home, we must each be sanctified.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is the truth.” John 17:17

To be happy and holy, God’s great guidebook, the Bible, must be in the home and must be read. God’s word teaches us how to live. Studying the Bible and praying together opens the way for the Holy Spirit to begin His work of transformation in our hearts and minds. We need to have family worship if we are going to have a sanctified home.

“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalms 55:17

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

“O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Psalm 95:6

We must first yield our hearts to God, entirely consecrating ourselves to Him; then, there is no problem that He cannot solve on our behalf. But He does not force His way into our lives and homes. If we set aside specific periods of time, as David and Daniel did, to earnestly spend in prayer, telling Him about the problems in our homes, we can be confident that He will answer. The Lord has told us that we should pray every day to be divested of the selfishness that ruins the happiness, peace, and joy of our home (Our High Calling, 242).

Jesus was a person of prayer. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35

The Lord never tells us to do something unless it is necessary while we strive against our sinful natures. He promises that we can overcome all of our sinful propensities—inherent or cultivated—and resist the temptation to sin. However, this can only happen as we continue to pray and surrender. The devil declares that there is not a single unselfish person in the world who can obey the law of God. But is that true?

God says if I study His word and pray, if I surrender my heart and will to Him, if I look to Him always for everything I need, then He will provide the power and grace necessary to change me from a person who thinks only of himself, to a person who unselfishly serves God first and others second.

If everyone in my family is selfish, then our prayer must be, “Lord, help us to prove the devil is a liar, to prove that there is one person in my home who is unselfish.” Your best chance of helping others in your home, is to be unselfish and Christlike yourself. As you give love to others, the barrier of selfishness that destroys the happiness in a home is broken down and love and joy can reign in your home.

The Lord has been so gracious to us in our weakness and tendency to misunderstand that He has given us specific counsel regarding how to talk and act at home. Bible study, prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and praise are all essential parts of a happy home, but let’s not forget that we must love and obey the law of God.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:5–9

When we follow God’s commandments, seeking always to do His will, then we are learning how to be happy.

Here are some actions that can make strong relationships and bring happiness into the home:

  • Expressing affection
  • Kindly attentions
  • Refined manners
  • Kind, loving words
  • Faithfulness
  • Gentleness
  • Humility, meekness
  • Patience
  • No envy
  • No pride
  • Understanding
  • Courtesy
  • Encouragement
  • Gratitude
  • Sympathy
  • Helpfulness

“We want a spirit of gentleness. We cannot live right in the family circle without it. In order to have the proper control of our children, we must manifest a spirit of gentleness and of meekness and of longsuffering. We do not want to have a faultfinding, fretful, scolding spirit. If we teach them to have a spirit of gentleness, we must have a spirit of gentleness ourselves; … if we would have them manifest a spirit of love toward us, we must manifest a gentle, loving spirit toward them. But at the same time, there need be no weakness or unwise indulgence on the part of parents.” The Review and Herald, December 21, 1886

We must exhibit gratitude in our homes. This may be one of the most difficult attitudes to bring into the home as we too often take for granted the members of our families and the things they do as part of the family. While it is sometimes needful to discipline a child, a “Thank you” or “I appreciate that so much” are simple ways to express gratitude, and young children flourish and grow when gratitude is expressed for their small efforts and obedience.

“We should be self-forgetful, ever looking out for opportunities, even in little things, to show gratitude for the favors we have received of others, and watching for opportunities to cheer others and lighten and relieve their sorrows and burdens by acts of tender kindness and little deeds of love. These thoughtful courtesies that, commencing in our families, extend outside the family circle, help make up the sum of life’s happiness, and the neglect of these little things make up the sum of life’s bitterness and sorrow.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 539, 540

“It is by beholding love in their parents that children are led to obey the fifth commandment. …

Parents often stir up the worst passions of the human heart because of their lack of self-control. They correct them [the children] in a spirit of anger and rather confirm them in their evil ways and defiant spirit than influence them in the way of right. By their own arbitrary spirit, they thrust their children under satanic influences, instead of rescuing them from the snares of Satan by gentleness and love. … By their violent, unforgiving temper, make them adverse to all religion.” The Review and Herald, November 15, 1892

Every one of us has faults, and it is the devil’s handiwork to cause us to focus on the faults of others, particularly those of our spouses, until the faults are so significant that we can no longer see our own faults, nor do we appreciate the good things in them and the marriage.

The Lord wants us to do just the opposite. “Let all seek to discover the excellencies rather than the defects.” The Adventist Home, 105. We are to be quick to recognize the good qualities in our spouses. They must have them, or why else would we have married them?

“Love cannot long exist without expression.” Ibid., 107. There are many ways of expressing love, but it must be expressed.

“Around every family, there is a sacred circle that should be kept unbroken. Within this circle, no other person has a right to come.” The Ministry of Healing, 361

We should not share private matters or feelings with others outside our homes. We all have faults, and some of those faults are known only by our spouses and God. It is God’s will to cure us and save us from these faults. It is the devil’s purpose to have us share these private things with the world. When this is done, the faults and problems become more significant, and discouragement creeps into the marriage and home, ultimately leading to the loss of respect and, in some cases, love for one another.

“Determine to be all that it is possible to be to each other. Continue the early attentions. In every way, encourage each other in fighting the battles of life. Study to advance the happiness of each other. Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be, as it were, the very beginning of love. The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven.” Ibid., 360

We are not to compel our spouse to do what we want. We should not try to control their lives by various means of manipulation. Men are more direct because they have physical strength. Women lacking that physical strength use emotional and mental manipulation. But in the end, it brings the same disastrous result.

“Neither the husband nor the wife should attempt to exercise over the other an arbitrary control. Do not try to compel each other to yield to your wishes. You cannot do this and retain each other’s love. Be kind, patient, and forbearing, considerate, and courteous. By the grace of God, you can succeed in making each other happy, as in your marriage vow you promised to do. …

“Both husband and wife should be willing to yield his or her way or opinion.” Adventist Home, 118

If we want to have a happy home, we must not think only of ourselves. We will not be happy in our marriages if we are not contributing to our spouses’ happiness, and our homes will not be happy if we are not helping others outside our homes find happiness as well. Some of the unhappiest people are those whose lives are entirely self-centered and who contribute nothing to the happiness of others. The truest happiness is to be found in unselfish service—at home, at church, in the community, in missionary work.

Saved Without the Loss of One

It must be the desire of every Christian that their family as a whole will be saved. This can be a reality, but if you want your family saved without the loss of one, then you must be saved. If you are not there, your family will not be complete.

The truth is, the majority of families will have someone missing. But God is willing to save every member of every family, and He will if they are surrendered to Him. It is crucial, then, that we surrender ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit so that on that day, when the voice of Jesus is heard, and all His children are gathered to Him to be taken home, every family, with every member, will be able to meet together on the sea of glass, once lost souls, but now members of the eternal family of God.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is the Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be reached by email at historic@stepstolife.org or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

Joshua and the Angel – Zechariah 3

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“Wonderful events are soon to open before the world. The end of all things is at hand. The time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with punishment, and even death, if they do not observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath.

“ ‘And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.’ By this we see the importance of having our names written in the book of life. All whose names are registered there will be delivered from Satan’s power, and Christ will command that their filthy garments be removed, and that they be clothed with His righteousness. ‘And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.’

“In the time of trouble, Satan stirs up the wicked, and they encircle the people of God to destroy them. But he does not know that ‘pardon’ has been written opposite their names in the books of heaven. He does not know that the command has been given, ‘Take away the filthy garments’ from them, clothe them with ‘change of raiment,’ and set ‘a fair mitre’ upon their heads.

“The promise made to Joshua is made to all the remnant people of God: ‘If thou wilt walk in My ways [not in your own ways], and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.’ Who are these that stand by? They are the angels of God. Could our eyes be opened, as were those of the servant of Elisha at Dothan, we should see evil angels all around us, urging their presence upon us, and watching for an opportunity to tempt and overthrow us; we should also see holy angels guarding us, and with their light and power pressing back the evil angels.

“If we could only see the many dangers from which we are daily preserved by the holy angels, instead of complaining of our trials and misfortunes, we would talk continually of the mercies of God.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists (1886), 156

God’s Storehouse: His Church

by

August 24 – 30, 2025

Key Text

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 9–16; Testimonies, Vol. 4, 16–20

Introduction

“The church of Christ is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1118

Sunday

1 A FOLD FOR CHRIST’S FLOCK

1.a. Why does God have a church on earth? 1 Peter 2:5, 9

Note: “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” The Acts of the Apostles, 9

1.b.      What characteristics are essential in God’s true church? Revelation 14:12; Ephesians 4:4–6. How did Christ lead His disciples to achieve this goal?

Note: “They [the twelve apostles] were brought together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit. They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment.” The Desire of Ages, 296

Monday

2 A SAFE HAVEN

2.a. What responsibility comes to each one of us when we commit our lives to Christ? Philippians 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:15

Note: “[An] obligation, too often lightly regarded—one that to the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain—is the obligation of church relationship.

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.

“The church is organized for service; and in a life of service to Christ, connection with the church is one of the first steps. Loyalty to Christ demands the faithful performance of church duties. This is an important part of one’s training; and in a church imbued with the Master’s life, it will lead directly to effort for the world without.” Education, 268, 269

2.b.      What privilege is extended to every member of God’s true church? 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:25

Note: “Preaching is a small part of the work to be done for the salvation of souls. God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the truth, and He places them in the arms of the church. The ministers may do their part, but they can never perform the work that the church should do. God requires His church to nurse those who are young in faith and experience, to go to them, not for the purpose of gossiping with them, but to pray, to speak unto them words that are ‘like apples of gold in pictures of silver.’ ” Evangelism, 352

Tuesday

3 CALLED TO SERVE

3.a. What did the psalmist acknowledge about God, affirming the duty of His people? Psalm 60:4. How is this duty often neglected?

Note: “In many of our organized churches the banner of truth is trailing in the dust because the members are not doing service to God, but are serving their own pleasure. They work through the influences that surround the soul. By precept and example, in self-indulgence, in their worldly habits of dress, in their words and actions, they testify against the truth, against self-denial, against the meekness of Christ. They are cold spiritually, and far separated from Christ. If they followed in the footsteps of Christ, they would be partakers of His self-denial, of His self-sacrifice, that they might lift up and save the souls that are ready to perish.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, 173

3.b.      What is the calling of every follower of Christ? 2 Timothy 2:1–4

Note: “The church of Christ is organized for service. Its watchword is ministry. Its members are soldiers, to be trained for conflict under the Captain of their salvation. Christian ministers, physicians, teachers, have a broader work than many have recognized. They are not only to minister to the people, but to teach them to minister. They should not only give instruction in right principles, but educate their hearers to impart these principles. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessing can be retained only as it is shared.” The Ministry of Healing, 148, 149

Wednesday

4 GROWING AND DEVELOPING

4.a. What promotes both unity and strength in God’s church? Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:1–3

Note: “Never can the church reach the position that God desires it to reach until it is bound up in sympathy with its missionary workers. Never can the unity for which Christ prayed exist until spirituality is brought into missionary service, and until the church becomes an agency for the support of missions. The efforts of the missionaries will not accomplish what they should until the church members in the home field show, not only in word, but in deed, that they realize the obligation resting on them to give these missionaries their hearty support.” Counsels on Stewardship, 47, 48

4.b.      How does Inspiration depict the spiritual growth of the believer and his work for God? Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Corinthians 3:9–13

Note: “God is testing every soul that claims to believe in Him. All are entrusted with talents. The Lord has given men His goods upon which to trade. He has made them His stewards, and has placed in their possession money, houses, and lands. All these are to be regarded as the Lord’s goods and used to advance His work, to build up His kingdom in the world. In trading with the Lord’s goods, we are to seek Him for wisdom, that we may not use His sacred trust to glorify ourselves or to indulge selfish impulses. The amount entrusted varies, but those who have the smallest gifts must not feel that because their talent of means is small, they can do nothing with it.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 245, 246

Thursday

5 OPTIMUM SERVICE

5.a. What enables talents and funds to be utilized most efficiently? 1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:20; 14:40. On the other hand, what causes much to be lost among many Sabbathkeepers?

Note: “ ‘The church must flee to God’s Word and become established upon gospel order, which has been overlooked and neglected.’ This is indispensably necessary in order to bring the church into the unity of the faith.” Early Writings, 100

“Oh, how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings and to refute claims not endorsed by the word of God! We want to hold the lines evenly, that there shall be no breaking down of the system of regulation and order. In this way license shall not be given to disorderly elements to control the work at this time. We are living in a time when order, system, and unity of action are most essential.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 228

5.b.      What condition should exist among Christ’s followers to ensure success in our missionary endeavors? John 10:16; 13:35; 17:18–23

Note: The unity, the harmony, that should exist among the disciples of Christ, is described in these words: ‘That they may be one, as We are.’ But how many there are who draw off, and seem to think that they have learned all they need to learn. Brethren, where is your burden for these? Have you been to them to invite them to come and seek God, and hear the word that has been precious to you? Are you enjoying light, and still willing to let others remain in darkness? We want all our brethren to have the same blessing that we have. Those who choose to stand on the outskirts of the camp, cannot know what is going on in the inner circle. They must come right into the inner courts, for as a people we must be united in faith and purpose. Jesus has prayed that His disciples all might be one— ‘As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.’ (John 17:21). It is through this unity that we are to convince the world of the mission of Christ, and bear our divine credentials to the world. ‘And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One’ (John 17:22). This is what we want. This is what we are waiting for—more of the glory of Christ to lighten our pathway, that we may go forth with that glory shining in our countenances, that we may make an impression upon those with whom we shall come in contact.” The Review and Herald, March 11, 1890

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    How can we identify God’s true church?

2    Why is church membership important for the individual believer?

3    In what way may we be in danger of testifying against the truth?

4    Name one factor which fosters unity in the church.

5    How are we to bear our divine credentials to the world?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Offerings

by

August 17 – 23, 2025

Key Text

“What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Psalm 116:12

Study Help: Testimonies, Vol. 3, 390–399; Ibid., Vol. 4, 462–476

Introduction

“Our self-denying benevolence, our willing offerings, are to give evidence that the truth has been doing its work upon our hearts.” The Review and Herald, July 14, 1904

Sunday

1 FIRST FRUITS

1.a. What declaration was made to God’s people early in their history? Exodus 22:29

Note: “God has laid His hand upon all things, both man and his possessions; for all belong to Him. He says, I am the owner of the world; the universe is Mine, and I require you to consecrate to My service the first fruits of all that I, through My blessing, have caused to come into your hands. God’s word declares, ‘Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits.’ ‘Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.’ This tribute He demands as a token of our loyalty to Him.” Counsels on Stewardship, 72

1.b. What practice was restored in the reformation of Nehemiah and is also needed among us today? Nehemiah 10:34–37

Note: “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. The Lord’s servants are not to be limited to a meager supply. His messengers should not be handicapped in their work of holding forth the word of life. As they teach the truth they should have means to invest for the advancement of the work, which must be done at the right time in order to have the best and most saving influence. Deeds of mercy must be done; the poor and suffering must be aided. Gifts and offerings should be appropriated for this purpose. Especially in new fields, where the standard of truth has never yet been uplifted, this work must be done. If all the professed people of God, both old and young, would do their duty, there would be no dearth in the treasury. If all would pay a faithful tithe and devote to the Lord the first fruits of their increase, there would be a full supply of funds for His work. But the law of God is not respected or obeyed, and this has brought a pressure of want.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 384, 385

Monday

2 THANK, FREEWILL, AND TRESPASS OFFERINGS

2.a. What can we learn from the exemplary attitude of the patriarchs? Psalms 50:14; 116:12

Note: “Jacob felt that God had claims upon him which he must acknowledge, and that the special tokens of divine favor granted him demanded a return. So does every blessing bestowed upon us call for a response to the Author of all our mercies.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 187

“Our time, our talents, our property, should be sacredly devoted to Him who has given us these blessings in trust. Whenever a special deliverance is wrought in our behalf, or new and unexpected favors are granted us, we should acknowledge God’s goodness, not only by expressing our gratitude in words, but, like Jacob, by gifts and offerings to His cause. As we are continually receiving the blessings of God, so we are to be continually giving.” Ibid., 187, 188

2.b. Why did Hezekiah see a need for reformation in Judah? 2 Chronicles 29:1–7. What reformation do we also need today? 2 Chronicles 29:27–33

Note: “There has been a great neglect of duty. Many have withheld means which God claims as His, and in so doing they have committed robbery toward God. Their selfish hearts have not given the tenth of all their increase, which God claims. Neither have they come up to the yearly gatherings with their freewill offerings, their thank offerings, and their trespass offerings. Many have come before the Lord empty-handed. ‘Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 510

“Bring in your trespass-offerings, your thank-offerings, and your freewill-offerings; humble your hearts before the Lord, and He will be found ever ready to receive and pardon.” The Review and Herald, July 8, 1880

Tuesday

3 LEVITICAL LIBERALITY

3.a. How has God combined duty and blessing? Proverbs 11:24, 25

Note: “The Levitical dispensation was distinguished in a remarkable manner by the sanctification of property. When we speak of the tithe as the standard of the Jewish contributions to religious purposes, we do not speak understandingly. The Lord kept His claims paramount, and in almost every article they were reminded of the Giver by being required to make returns to Him. …

“A conscientious few made returns to God of about one third of all their income for the benefit of religious interests and for the poor. These exactions were not from a particular class of the people, but from all, the requirement being proportioned according to the amount possessed.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 467 [Author’s emphasis.]

“Whenever God’s people, in any period of the world, have cheerfully and willingly carried out His plan in systematic benevolence and in gifts and offerings, they have realized the standing promise that prosperity should attend all their labors just in proportion as they obeyed His requirements.” Ibid., Vol. 3, 395

3.b. In making monetary pledges and vows, what must we never forget? Ecclesiastes 5:4–7; Psalm 66:13, 14

Note: “God would have the members of His church consider their obligations to Him as binding as their indebtedness to the merchant or the market. Let everyone review his past life and see if any unpaid, unredeemed pledges have been neglected, and then make extra exertions to pay the ‘uttermost farthing,’ for we must all meet and abide the final issue of a tribunal where nothing will stand the test but integrity and veracity.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 476

Wednesday

4 THE SECOND TITHE

4.a. In the Hebrew economy, what was the second tithe, and what was its purpose? Deuteronomy 14:22, 23, 27–29; 26:12, 13

Note: “This [second] tithe, or its equivalent in money, [the Israelites] were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God, and a specified portion to the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. Thus, provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God.

“Every third year, however, this second tithe was to be used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the poor, as Moses said, ‘That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.’ Deuteronomy 26:12. This tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 530

4.b.      How did the second tithe benefit the giver in a spiritual sense, and in what ways can it be a blessing today? Proverbs 19:17

Note: “The consecration to God of a tithe of all increase, whether of the orchard and harvest field, the flocks and herds, or the labor of brain or hand, the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God’s ownership of all, and of their opportunity to be channels of His blessings. It was a training adapted to kill out all narrowing selfishness, and to cultivate breadth and nobility of character.” Education, 44

“There will be an abundance of places to use the second tithe in doing earnest missionary work in new places.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 7, 139

Thursday

5 GIVING IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT

5.a. What should we realize in giving to God’s cause? Mark 12:41–44. What principle should we use in determining the amount of our first fruits and other offerings? James 1:5

Note: “ ‘How much owest thou unto my lord?’ Luke 16:5. It is impossible to tell. All that we have is from God. He lays His hand upon our possessions, saying: ‘I am the rightful owner of the whole universe; these are My goods. Consecrate to Me the tithes and offerings. As you bring these specified goods as a token of your loyalty and your submission to My sovereignty, My blessing shall increase your substance, and you will have abundance.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 245

“The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable purposes amounted to fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax upon the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty; but, on the contrary, the faithful observance of these regulations was one of the conditions of their prosperity.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 527

5.b.      What attitude would the Lord have each of us manifest? 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7; Matthew 6:1–4

Note: “The Lord does not need our offerings. We cannot enrich Him by our gifts. Says the psalmist: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ Yet God permits us to show our appreciation of His mercies by self-sacrificing efforts to extend the same to others. This is the only way in which it is possible for us to manifest our gratitude and love to God. He has provided no other.” Counsels on Stewardship, 18, 19

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    Why does the Lord require us to render our first fruits unto Him?

2    What types of offerings does the Lord still specify for us today?

3    What can we learn from the Hebrews’ example in giving?

4    For what purposes might the second tithe be used in our days?

5    How is the value of a gift measured in God’s sight?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Tithe

by

August 10 – 16, 2025

Key Text

“The tenth shall be holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:32, last part

Study Help: The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882; Gospel Workers, 222–228

Introduction

“The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself.” Gospel Workers, 226

Sunday

1 FROM THE DAYS OF GENESIS

1.a. By what means did God reserve for Himself a portion of the garden of Eden? Genesis 2:16, 17. How does this compare to the tithe?

Note: “The Lord created every tree in Eden pleasant to the eyes and good for food, and He bade Adam and Eve freely enjoy His bounties. But He made one exception. Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were not to eat. This tree God reserved as a constant reminder of His ownership of all. Thus, He gave them opportunity to demonstrate their faith and trust in Him by their perfect obedience to His requirements.

“So it is with God’s claims upon us. He places His treasures in the hands of men, but requires that one tenth shall be faithfully laid aside for His work. He requires this portion to be placed in His treasury. It is to be rendered to Him as His own; it is sacred and is to be used for sacred purposes, for the support of those who carry the message of salvation to all parts of the world. He reserves this portion, that means may ever be flowing into His treasure house and that the light of truth may be carried to those who are nigh and those who are afar off. By faithfully obeying this requirement we acknowledge that all belongs to God.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 386

1.b.      What was the practice of the early patriarchs? Genesis 14:18–20; 28:20–22

Note: “The tithing system did not originate with the Hebrews. From the earliest times the Lord claimed a tithe as His, and this claim was recognized and honored.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 525

Monday

2 IN THE HEBREW ECONOMY

2.a. What specific instruction was given to the early Hebrew nation? Leviticus 27:30, 32. How does the Lord emphasize this principle in all ages?

Note: “In the Hebrew economy one tenth of the income of the people was set apart to support the public worship of God. …

“As the Israelites were about to be established as a nation, the law of tithing was reaffirmed as one of the divinely ordained statutes upon obedience to which their prosperity depended.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 525

“ ‘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’ (Exodus 20:10). 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.” Ibid., 525, 526. [Author’s emphasis.

2.b.      What was required before the tithe could be reserved? Exodus 34:26, first part; 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6

Note: “Even before the tithe could be reserved there had been an acknowledgment of the claims of God. The first that ripened of every product of the land was consecrated to Him. The first of the wool when the sheep were shorn, of the grain when the wheat was threshed, the first of the oil and the wine, was set apart for God. So also, were the first-born of all animals; and a redemption price was paid for the first-born son. The first fruits were to be presented before the Lord at the sanctuary, and were then devoted to the use of the priests.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 526

Tuesday

3 A TIMELESS PRINCIPLE

3.a. What was included among the reformations made in the days of Nehemiah? Nehemiah 10:37; 12:44

3.b.      What practice of the Pharisees met with Christ’s approval? Matthew 23:23. Why does the tithing principle apply also in the New Testament era? Hebrews 7:1–5, 8, 20, 21

Note: “The New Testament does not reenact the law of the tithe, as it does not that of the Sabbath; for the validity of both is assumed, and their deep spiritual import explained. … While we as a people are seeking faithfully to give to God the time which He has reserved as His own, shall we not also render to Him that portion of our means which He claims?” Counsels on Stewardship, 66

“A tithe of all our increase is the Lord’s. He has reserved it to Himself to be employed for religious purposes. It is holy. Nothing less than this has He accepted in any dispensation. A neglect or postponement of this duty, will provoke the divine displeasure. If all professed Christians would faithfully bring their tithes to God, His treasury would be full.” The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882

Wednesday

4 WARNINGS FOR US

4.a. How does the tithing principle relate to the eighth commandment? Exodus 20:15; Malachi 3:7–9

Note: “God lays His hand upon all man’s possessions, saying: I am the owner of the universe, and these goods are Mine. The tithe you have withheld I reserve for the support of My servants in their work of opening the Scriptures to those who are in the regions of darkness, who do not understand My law. In using My reserve fund to gratify your own desires you have robbed souls of the light which I made provision for them to receive. You have had opportunity to show loyalty to Me, but you have not done this. You have robbed Me; you have stolen My reserve fund. ‘Ye are cursed with a curse’ (Malachi 3:9).” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 387

4.b.      What must we never forget about the tithe? 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14

Note: “The tithe is set apart for a special use. It is not to be regarded as a poor fund. It is to be especially devoted to the support of those who are bearing God’s message to the world; and it should not be diverted from this purpose.” Counsels on Stewardship, 103

“Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lord’s work.” Gospel Workers, 225

“A very plain, definite message has been given to me for our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects which, though good in themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe should be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord’s arrangement. God will judge for these things.

“One reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used—the support of the ministers. There should be today in the field one hundred well-qualified laborers where now there is but one.” Ibid., 226

Thursday

5 OUR FIRST FINANCIAL PRIORITY

5.a. What is the key to spiritual blessing and temporal prosperity? Matthew 6:33

Note: “Not only does the Lord claim the tithe as His own, but He tells us how it should be reserved for Him. He says, ‘Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.’ This does not teach that we are to spend our means on ourselves, and bring to the Lord the remnant, even though it should be otherwise an honest tithe. Let God’s portion be first set apart. The directions given by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul in regard to gifts, present a principle that applies also to tithing: ‘On the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.’ Parents and children are here included. Not only the rich, but the poor, are addressed.” The Review and Herald, February 4, 1902. [Author’s emphasis.]

“The tithe should be consecrated to God. His requirements come first. We are not doing His will if we consecrate to Him what is left after all our wants have been supplied. Before any part of our income is consumed, we should take out and present to Him that portion which He claims as His. When this is done, the remainder will be sanctified and blessed to our own use. But when we withhold that which He says is His, the curse rests upon the whole, and we are recorded in the books of heaven as guilty of robbery. God gives man nine-tenths, but the one-tenth He claims for sacred purposes—as He has given man six days for his own work, and has reserved the seventh day to Himself.” Pacific Union Recorder, October 10, 1901

5.b.      What does God declare to each of us about that which is His? Malachi 3:10

Note: “Let the Lord’s people pay a faithful tithe, and let them, also, from parents to children, lay aside for the Lord the money that is so often spent for self-gratification. The Lord has made us His stewards. He has placed His means in our hands for faithful distribution. He asks us to render to Him His own. He has reserved the tithe as His portion, to be used in sending the gospel to all parts of the world. My brethren and sisters, confess and forsake your selfishness, and bring to the Lord your gifts and offerings. Bring Him also the tithe that you have withheld. Come confessing your neglect. Prove the Lord as He has invited you to do.” The Review and Herald, November 23, 1905

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    What object lesson from Eden illustrates the tithing principle?

2    How were the Hebrews to acknowledge God’s claims before returning their tithe to God’s storehouse?

3    Why is the tithing system applicable in the New Testament era?

4    What would happen if every Christian paid a faithful tithe?

5    How does faithful tithing benefit each one of us?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.