1. FROM THE DAYS OF GENESIS Sunday August 9

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? 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, p. 386. b. What was the practice of the early patriarchs? Genesis 14:18–20; 28:20–22. 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, p. 525.

---

2. IN THE HEBREW ECONOMY Monday August 10

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? 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, p. 525. ‘The tithe . . . is the Lord’s’ (Leviticus 27:30). 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., pp. 525, 526. [Author’s italics.] b. What was required before the tithe could be reserved? Exodus 34:26 (first part); 2 Chronicles 31:5, 6. 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, p. 526.

---

3. A TIMELESS PRINCIPLE Tuesday August 11

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

---

4. WARNINGS FOR US Wednesday August 12

a. How does the tithing principle relate to the eighth commandment? Exodus 20:15; Malachi 3:7–9. 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, p. 387. b. What must we never forget about the tithe? 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14. 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, p. 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, p. 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., p. 226.

---

5. OUR FIRST FINANCIAL PRIORITY Thursday August 13

a. What is the key to spiritual blessing and temporal prosperity? Matthew 6:33. Not only does the Lord claim the tithe as His own, but He tells us how it should be reserved for Him. He says, ‘Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase’ (Proverbs 3:9). 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 italics.]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. b. What does God declare to each of us about that which is His? Malachi 3:10. 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.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday August 14

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?