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The Tithe as a Test

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 4, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 36.

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The Tithe as a Test

By E. K. Slade

Gospel Order—No. 7

The Tithe as a Test

E. K. SLADE
God gives every blessing needful for the happiness of his children. He withholds nothing that is good that can help to make the existence of his subjects perfect and enjoyable. Before the angels sinned they enjoyed in common the great wealth of the universe and every privilege that could be granted. The only reservation that was made was the occupancy of the throne. God only could occupy that; and, in doing so, no subject was restricted in his privileges and pleasures and no needed blessing was withheld.
Lucifer's imaginations led him astray. He doubted God, and felt that he was being deprived of that upon which his happiness largely depended. He seemed to lose sight of all the bounties about him, and fixed his eyes upon that which God had seen fit not to give him. He thought, or "said in his heart," I will have that. He cherished this thought until covetousness unfitted him and his followers for the enjoyment of the heavenly home. The great principle involved in this fall is the disregard of God's right, wisdom, and love in withholding as in bestowing. Lucifer became a rival ruler, and ever since the fall he has claimed a right to that which was never given to him or any other creature.
When man was created, great gifts were bestowed upon him. Everything that he could possibly need for his happiness and existence was provided. There was just one reservation made; and had Adam maintained the right relation to God, he would have seen in this arrangement an act of love on God's part, in giving and withholding according to his knowledge of man's needs. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was reserved for the good of humanity. Man was not to be made immortal until he was tested and proved true on the point wherein Lucifer failed. Really, the fitness for true occupancy and ownership was involved in this test. Man could not be entrusted with eternal wealth until it could be known that he would not reach out with a covetous hand for that which God had reserved. To many the test has seemed arbitrary and unreasonable; but when we note the nature of the fall and apply the principle involved, it is apparent to all that this Edenic test was required in order to forestall a future apostasy and make certain man's fitness for true riches.
Satan ridiculed the restrictions made in the garden, and insinuated that God was withholding great blessings and privileges from the holy pair. It is interesting to note that the desire that germinated in his heart was the allurement held out to them—"Ye shall be as gods"—that led to their fall. They took that which God had reserved. They fell, and forfeited the right to any part in God's plans. Without the restraining influence of the gospel, Adam and his children could prove themselves no better fitted for a place in the kingdom of God than were the fallen angels. The history of the human race clearly reveals the need of the Edenic test. As "the love of money is the root of all evil," so this act of reaching out for that which God has reserved and withheld is the beginning of man's downfall. Self was made the object of man's solicitude and service in direct contrast to the perfect nature. A commonwealth was made impossible, and the ownership of the earth as intended in God's plan was thwarted. Man was wholly unfitted for perpetual life and had lost the love that would make common ownership possible.
The earth was created to be inhabited. The purpose of God cannot be defeated. Since the created being has failed in the test, making it impossible for Adam and his children to inherit the earth, a new plan for peopling the earth must be provided. Those who fell might have been set aside and destroyed forever, and others might have been created to fill their place. Instead of this a plan of redemption was provided, which was in fact a re-creation. Through the gospel, the earth is to be peopled by a re-creation, or the birth of the Spirit. Those who are thus transformed are to "inherit the earth." The transformation will be complete and the divine nature will be fully established.
Can we think for a moment that God, in this last attempt to people the earth, will require no test similar to the one provided in the garden of Eden? By careful thought it seems certain that the occupancy and ownership of the earth will be granted to those only who have been thoroughly tested on this particular point in question. No risk will be run. A covetous man can have no part in God's commonwealth. His nature must be changed before he can be entrusted with eternal riches.
In this gospel age the test is the tithe. God has the same right and purpose in reserving one tenth that he had in withholding the one tree in the garden. He does not need the one tenth, neither is it an arbitrary requirement to suit his fancy or demonstrate his authority, but it is the same test to rebuke covetousness, develop benevolence, and determine our fitness for eternal riches. Those who have lightly regarded the tithing system will do well to consider carefully God's purpose in the plan. It is a vital test that all will do well to heed. Not many of the millions of the world will regard it, but God has a few people in the earth who will recognize his right and honor and his purpose in this requirement. The earth will be inherited by those who prove true in their relation to God and recognize his right to reserve one tenth to himself. The tithe is such a test as this to the people of God at this time.
Mount Vernon, Ohio.