January -March 2023
Managing for the Master Till He Comes
Chief Contributor: Edward Reid

INTRODUCTION:

Quoting from lesson:
In this quarter's lessons we will study God's ideal in our relationship with Him and clearly see how we can develop a trust so deep that we will remain faithful to Him, even when we can't buy or sell!
This kind of faith does not come up overnight, by faithfully managing what God has given us, we can be prepared even now, for what ever is coming our way.
God is the One with the resources, and when we work with Him He allows us tp handle them for Him It is the Savior's purpose that human beings purified and sanctified, shall be His helping hand,

This should also be an interesting three months of study and discussion.

Stewardship:

There is a vision in EGW's writings that help to understand the lesson's point on laying up treasure in heaven, not on earth where thieves and moths destroy it.

THE TWO CROWNS

"Chapter 27: The Two Crowns, in Christian Experience and Teaching of Ellen G. White.

In a vision given me at Battle Creek, Michigan, October 25, 1861, I was shown this earth, dark and gloomy. Said the angel, "Look carefully!" Then I was shown the people upon the earth. Some were surrounded by angels of God, others were in total darkness, surrounded by evil angels. I saw an arm reached down from heaven, holding a golden scepter. On the top of the scepter was a crown, studded with diamonds. Every diamond emitted light, bright, clear, and beautiful. Inscribed upon the crown were these words: "All who win me are happy, and shall have everlasting life." {CET 161.1}

Below this crown was another scepter, and upon this also was placed a crown, in the center of which were jewels, gold, and silver, reflecting some light. The inscription upon the crown was: "Earthly treasure. Riches is power. All who win me have honor and fame." I saw a vast multitude rushing forward to obtain this crown. They were clamorous. Some in their eagerness seemed bereft of reason. They would thrust one another, crowding back those who were weaker than they, and trampling upon those who in their haste fell. Many eagerly seized hold of the treasures within the crown, and held them fast. The heads of some were as white as silver, and their faces were furrowed with care and anxiety. Their own relatives, bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh, they regarded not; but, as appealing looks were turned to them, they held their treasures more firmly, as though fearful that in an unguarded moment they should lose a little, or be induced to divide with them. Their eager eyes would often fasten upon the earthly crown, and count and recount its treasures. {CET 161.2}

Images of want and wretchedness appeared in that multitude, and looked wishfully at the treasures there, and turned hopelessly away as the stronger overpowered and drove back the weaker. Yet they could not give it up thus, but with a multitude of deformed, sickly, and aged, they sought to press their way to the earthly crown. Some died in seeking to reach it. Others fell just in the act of taking hold of it. Many had but just laid hold of it when they fell. Dead bodies strewed the ground, yet on rushed the multitude, trampling over the fallen and dead bodies of their companions. Everyone who reached the crown possessed a share in it, and was loudly applauded by an interested company standing around it. {CET 162.1}

A large company of evil angels were very busy. Satan was in the midst of them, and all looked with the most exulting satisfaction upon the company struggling for the crown. He seemed to throw a peculiar charm upon those who eagerly sought it. {CET 162.2}

Many who sought this earthly crown were professed Christians. Some of them seemed to have a little light. They would look wishfully upon the heavenly crown, and would often seem charmed with its beauty, yet they had no true sense of its value and glory. While with one hand they were reaching forth languidly for the heavenly, with the other they reached eagerly for the earthly, determined to possess that; and in their earnest pursuit for the earthly, they lost sight of the heavenly. They were left in darkness, yet were anxiously groping about to secure the earthly crown. {CET 162.3}

Some became disgusted with the company who sought it so eagerly; they seemed to have a sense of their danger, and turned from it, and earnestly sought for the heavenly crown. The countenances of such soon changed from dark to light, from gloom to cheerfulness and holy joy. {CET 162.4}

I then saw a company pressing through the crowd with their eyes intently fixed upon the heavenly crown. As they earnestly urged their way through the disorderly crowd, angels attended them, and made room for them to advance. As they neared the heavenly crown, the light emanating from it shone upon them and around them, dispelling their darkness, and growing clearer and brighter, until they seemed to be transformed, and resembled the angels. They cast not one lingering look upon the earthly crown. Those who were in pursuit of the earthly, mocked them, and threw black balls after them. These did them no injury while their eyes were fixed upon the heavenly crown, but those who turned their attention to the black balls were stained with them. The following scripture was presented before me: {CET 163.1}

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. .. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (CET 163.2)

To view source and also the second half of this article in which the vison is interpreted, go to--
https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/11.776

The question is asked last quarter
"The question is whether the description of Isaiah 65:17- 25 is a representation of the eschatological new heavens and new earth? *It becomes clear that Isaiah 65 does not describe the eschatological picture in the same way as it is described in Revelation 21, 22,* because death, sin, curse, marriage and birth are included.

Isaiah 64:17-25 was God's wish for Israel.

When reading the blessings and curses in today's lesson,( Deut. 28) it was clear, those blessings were God's intentions for the nation of Israel back then. Most of the blessings were physical blessings of prosperity, health, safety, protection, honour and possession. If they had diligently hearkened unto the Lord, and trusting and obeying, lived according to His commands, Isaiah's depiction of the "new earth" would have become their reality. People would have still died of ripe old age, but their nation would have been the next thing to paradise.

Sadly, though some of the blessings were realized, for God patiently cared for and protected them in spite of their waywardness, yet, the curses became their greater result and reality due to their failing to "diligently harken" and depend fully on God in obedience and trust.

It's easy to reflect on Israel, but what about our world today? Yes, we still enjoy many blessings, and we thank God for them, but the curses are gaining, the world is rushing on into destruction. How do we respond?

Many questions flooded my mind as I read the blessings and curses. If we suffer loss of property and/or health, or a genetically challenged child is born, does it mean we are being cursed for our sins?

The Jews of Jesus day seemed to reason that way. On the other side we see a "prosperity gospel" reaction to these passages in the world today.

I don't believe we are promised a pain-free life in this world. It's not unusual at all to suffer in this world. To me the bottom line is simply, we need to trust, love and obey the Lord, no matter if everything is going great, or if disease, financial setbacks, death of loved ones who aren't all that old, take place. People who obey God have at times lost everything for doing so. Yes, God sees them through, but the way is tough.

We need to "harken diligently" yes, persistently hungering and thirsting for His righteousness and saving grace, walking with Him in obedience, no matter if this life gives us lands, increase and abundant health, or we need to depend daily on just enough to make it.

And yes, we need to count our blessings, even when big things go wrong, and we feel like crying our eyes out. Look for the blessings, and trust and follow Him in obedience and love! The eternal blessings, when we can be with the Lord forever, are greater than any on that list, greater than anything this world offers!

Interesting to read the given texts in sequence..

John 5:13 believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
Matt 10:22 you will be hated by all for My name?s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.,
Matt. 10:30 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Matt 6:28-29 Then they said to Him, ?What shall we do, that we may work the works of God??
Jesus answered, ?This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.?
2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Be diligent
the word commands a definitive action and conveys a sense of urgency. Make certain of His calling now. Don't put this off!

On the one hand we may know we have eternal life.
Yet we are urged to be diligent and make certain that our calling is secure.
And the arrangement of texts make it plain that we do not get that affirmation from others, We may well be hated by others.

A believer's "calling" is God drawing him or her to Himself and to salvation.
To make sure of this depends on our response, and that response to be genuine is our growing desire to make our relationship with Christ, as well as God's virtues the important things in our lives, resulting in us growing in our Christian spiritual life.

This week the tithing principle was discussed, and next week the whole lesson is about tithing. It's a subject that can get people quite agitated on both sides (to tithe or not to tithe). Is it an "old covenant" thing, or is it a principle connected to the everlasting covenant?

Scripture tells us God owns everything! He doesn't need our tithe or our offerings.
We aren't doing God a favor by giving Him a tenth of our money.
For one thing it really isn't ours to begin with, it's only in our possession due to His goodness to us.

Giving tithe and offerings is for our benefit. God has asked us to give, for what giving will do for us! We need His blessings. We need God and His salvation! We need to have a relationship of trust with God, and need to share His desire to save people, and feel a part of His work of reaching and saving people. Tithing is for our benefit! It links us in partnership with the God of the universe! It also guards against the evil of greed, and the "love of money" which is the root of all evil.
It's not so much the money, what God desires is our hearts, our commitment to Hi. We need to make Him first in our lives. And when we surrender to Him as our Lord, Savior, and guide and partner in life, we receive wonderful blessings. Those blessings are not payment for services rendered, they are the natural result of being connected with the One Who made us and loves us and has poured out all heaven to save us.

In Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19,20 Jesus commissions us to go into all the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, teaching them to observe all things, baptizing them, etc.

God wants us to be involved in the most important work for us as Christians.
We can't all be preachers, evangelists, missionaries to foreign countries, though we can do our part in the place where we are. One of things we can do is help fund this mission from the resources God has given to us.

In our society today, people really don't give that much to fund the commission to take the gospel into all the world.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.9:14) it says that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Even though human stewardship is often faulty, yet it is due to systematic giving of those who want to support the work financially, that the church now has representation and work going on all over the world.

I agree we should not be thinking about it so much as to "what do I get out of giving" be it spiritual development for ourselves, or trusting for financial benefits for ourselves, but rather what can I do to further the commission given to us and bring glory to God.
The tithe is a systematic method God has given to support gospel workers to go out and spread the gospel.

We also need to understand the Israelites had two different tithes.

1. Concerning the first tithe, we read,

?I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.? Numbers 18:21.

In the Christian era the first 10% is to support the gospel workers.

2. But the second tithe was actually for the worshippers themselves, enabling them to come and worship.

In the Christian era, this additional 10% can be seen as the free will offerings which we give for various projects, assistance to those less fortunate, and a variety of ways to assist in worshipping our God.

?Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always....the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are with you may come and eat and be satisfied...? "You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and you son and daughter, your servants... the stranger, the fatherless and the widow who are among you at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. Deuteronomy 14:23,29; Deuteronomy 16:11-14.

How tithing became a doctrine of the Adventist church

James White,in " Life Incidents:" page 300 tells us how it was in the early years (1850s)


Some of those "generous ones" made huge sacrifices, like selling their farms, to finance the work. Once the few generous ones withdrew their support things didn't go well at all. If the ministers were paid at all it was usually in farm produce or second hand clothing. As a result the ministers had to work for their living as well as preach. Since Adventist ministers back then travelled, visiting groups of believers all over the state, they couldn't hold a steady job but had to rely on jobs they could pick up on their journeys. Some farmed in the summer and did their travelling in the cold winter season. The stress caused many of the workers to succumber to ill health.

J.N, Andrews, though still young (in his twenties) was one who was totally exhausted, trying to earn a living, while traveling about preaching, and due to his studying and writing was having serious eye problems. He left the ministry and moved west to Iowa to an Adventist farming community. A year later J.N Loughborough and his wife, also disheartened and discouraged due to the overwork and stark poverty, also left the ministry and moved out to join the others in Waukon, Iowa.
However, Ellen and James White, took a hazardous journey by horse and sleigh in the middle of winter to visit them and encouraged them to come back.

This event challenged the early Advent leaders to seriously look into the scriptures to find God's plan for gospel workers.
James White continues in "Life Incidents page 300-301
This led to the establishment of a new giving plan named Systematic Benevolence.
The two key texts used to support the plan were 1 Corinthians 16:2, which emphasized systematic planning an offering every week, and 2 Corinthians 9:5-7, which emphasized cheerful giving . The 1859 plan did not include tithing. They discovered that in Malachi later.. The first guideline was that ?brothers? should set aside from two to twenty-five cents a week, and ?sisters? from one to ten cents a week. Additionally, those who had property were asked to set aside from one to five cents a week per $100 of value.'

Though the plan met some opposition at first it didn't take long for Systematic Benevolence to be widely accepted by Seventh-day Adventists. In 1868, James White observed, ?This system is generally adopted by our people everywhere, and affords liberal support to our ministers, leaving them free to devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry.? {Life Sketches 302}

TITHING PERFECTED

, In the mid 1870's the economy was taking a downward swing, while the number of workers and projects in the church was increasing. There was a renewed study on the Systematic Benevolence plan in 1876 when D. M. Canright published two articles in the Review and Herald. dealing with the Malachi's plan of tithing one tenth. Though the idea of a tenth was already suggested previously it was now brought into fuller focus.
"The Bible Plan of supporting the Ministry." "God requires that a tithe, or one-tenth, of all the income of his people shall be given to support his servants in their labors," he wrote. "Notice," he added, "the Lord does not say you should give me a tenth, but he says one-tenth is the Lord?s." Therefore, since the tithe already belonged to God, believers merely returned it to Him.
Others began to seriously study the tithing plan brought forth from the Old Testament. The new plan was implemented beginning the first week of 1879. And just a year later, most members had accepted the systematic plan based on tithing.

In 1932, for the first time tithing was listed in Adventist "Fundamental Beliefs"

.
In 1951 it was added to the baptismal vows as Number 10.


Though it took some time to establish the plan to what it is today, yet the idea of giving systematic support of the movement has been part of the church from early on.

Resources
https://stewardship.adventist.org/page672
https://spectrummagazine.org/articl...adventist-benevolence-historical-context










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How was the tithes and offerings received back then?

Was it done during the Worship Service, or was it done another way?

Haven't really researched this but here are some clues:

The story of the widow giving her two mites, the Desire of Ages page 614, indicates there were treasure chests in the court of the temple in which people dropped their offerings.


As to the early Adventists, there are several quotes where it seems they gave their offerings, not on Sabbath at worship, but on the first day of the week according to 1 Cor. 16:2
See
Counsels on Stewardship page 81


Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, page 714 Appendix


In one biographical story about Maud Sisley, an early Adventist Bible worker, we read a collector would come Sunday morning to collect the tithes and offerings
R&H March 3 1994, p.12




In the 1878 pamphlet on tithing we read:
"

Did they later take up offerings in church? Have to research more.


EGW tells us to bring them to the treasury -- bring them to the storehouse.