Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 16— Meeting God’s Claims First
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 Review and Herald, February 4, 1902. {CS 81.1}
We are not to consecrate to Him what remains of our income after all our real or imaginary wants are satisfied; but before any portion is consumed, we should set apart that which God has specified as His. {CS 81.2}
Many persons will meet all inferior demands and dues, and leave to God only the last gleanings, if there be any. If not, His cause must wait till a more convenient season.—The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882. {CS 81.3}
The design of the system of benevolence is for us to consecrate our first fruits to God’s treasury. This comes before meeting any of our “needs or wants.” We are not to wait for a “better or more convenient time.” We are to examine our budget, give to God first, and make due with the remaining portion. Not to say that we are to go hungry or without shelter, but we are to live within our means. Set aside God’s portion as His, and the rest for your needs. Sometimes we do not get what we want, but we get what we need.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for providing for all our needs in abundance. We consecrate our first fruits to Your treasury and pray that You bless these means to further the work of salvation. We pray that You also bless the remainder to satisfy the needs of our families and ourselves. We pray that You help us examine our budgets and multiply all these means exponentially to meet all our needs and to have even more first fruits for Your treasury. We pray for continued strength and endurance to acquire means while we await Your Second Advent. We thank You and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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