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XIV.
Christian Service
Chapter 159
:
Support of the Ministry
1. WHAT is one way in
which we are commanded to honor God?
"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 tithe [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 tithe 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 1ive 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
tithe-paying rest?
"The earth is the Lord's, and
the fullness 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
God: 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 God's goods?
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling
into afar 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 tithe-paying?
"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of
the most high God, 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
God 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 God: . . . 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 tithes 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 tithes of Israel; and as
Christ was made a priest after the order of
Melchisedec, who received tithes of the
patriarchs before the Levitical priesthood
was ordained, it is but logical and natural
to conclude that the ministry under Christ's
priest- hood should be supported by the same
means as were both of these priest-hoods,-
the tithes of God's people.
13. Did Christ Himself
approve of tithe-paying?
"Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and
cummin, 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 tithe and free-will
offerings?
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have
robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we
robbed Thee? In tithes 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 tithes 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 noblest 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. |
