Look to your light! does it shine out clear?
Support Of The Ministry
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Jacob"s Vow. "Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee." Gen. 28:22.
1. What is one way in which we are commanded to honor G.o.d?
"Honor the Lord _with thy substance_, and _with the first-fruits of all thine increase_." Prov. 3:9.
2. What part of one"s income has the Lord especially claimed as His?
"And _all the t.i.the_ [_tenth_] _of the land_, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, _is the Lord"s: it is holy unto the Lord_." Lev. 27:30.
3. For whose support and for what work was the t.i.the devoted in Israel?
"Behold, I have given _the children of Levi_ all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, _for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation_." Num. 18:21.
4. In what language does Paul approve of the same method of support for the gospel ministry?
"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?... Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? _Even so hath the Lord ordained that they __ which preach the gospel should live of the gospel_." 1 Cor.
9:11-14.
5. Upon what fundamental basis does the requirement of t.i.the-paying rest?
"_The earth is the Lord"s_, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Ps. 24:1.
6. Who owns all the gold and silver in the world?
"The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts."
Haggai 2:8.
7. Who owns all the cattle and fowls of the earth?
"For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine." Ps. 50:10, 11.
8. Who gives man power to get wealth?
"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy G.o.d: for _it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth_." Deut. 8:18.
9. What statement of Christ shows that man is not an original owner, but a steward of G.o.d"s goods?
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and _delivered unto them his goods_." Matt.
25:14. See 1 Cor. 4:7.
10. How early in the history of the world do we read of t.i.the-paying?
"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high G.o.d, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also _Abraham gave a tenth part of all_." Heb. 7:1, 2. See Gen.
14:17-20.
11. What vow did Jacob make at Bethel?
"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If G.o.d will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father"s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my G.o.d: ... and _of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee_." Gen. 28:20-22.
NOTE.-It is thus evident that the duty of paying t.i.thes was recognized by the patriarchs as a religious obligation.
12. After what order was Christ made a high priest?
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even _Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec_." Heb. 6:20.
NOTE.-As Christ"s priesthood succeeded the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood, which was supported by the t.i.thes of Israel; and as Christ was made a priest after the order of Melchisedec, who received t.i.thes of the patriarchs before the Levitical priesthood was ordained, it is but logical and natural to conclude that the ministry under Christ"s priesthood should be supported by the same means as were both of these priesthoods,-the t.i.thes of G.o.d"s people.
13. Did Christ Himself approve of t.i.the-paying?
"Ye pay t.i.the of mint and anise and c.u.mmin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: _these ought ye to have done_, and not to leave the other undone." Matt. 23:23.
14. Of what is one guilty who withholds the t.i.the and free-will offerings?
"Will a man rob G.o.d? Yet _ye have robbed Me_. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? _In t.i.thes and offerings._" Mal. 3:8.
15. Concerning what does the Lord ask us to prove Him, and upon what conditions does He promise great blessings?
"_Bring ye all the t.i.thes into the storehouse_, that there may be meat in Mine house, and _prove Me now herewith_, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts." Verses 10, 11.
My gracious Lord, I own Thy right To every service I can pay, And call it my supreme delight To hear Thy dictates, and obey.
What is my being, but for Thee,- Its sure support, its n.o.blest end?
"Tis my delight Thy face to see, And serve the cause of such a Friend.
I would not sigh for worldly joy, Or to increase my worldly good; Nor future days or powers employ To spread a sounding name abroad.
"Tis to my Saviour I would live- To Him who for my ransom died; Nor could all worldly honor give Such bliss as crowns me at His side.
PHILIP DODDRIDGE.
[Ill.u.s.tration.]