In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed to maintain the ordinances of divine service. Should the people of God give less in this age? The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings to God should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Luke 12:48. Said the Saviour to His disciples as He sent them forth, "Freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8. As our blessings and privileges are 529 increased--above all, as we have before us the unparalleled sacrifice of the glorious Son of God--should not our gratitude find expression in more abundant gifts to extend to others the message of salvation? The work of the gospel, as it widens, requires greater provision to sustain it than was called for anciently; and this makes the law of tithes and offerings of even more urgent necessity now than under the Hebrew economy. If His people were liberally to sustain His cause by their voluntary gifts, instead of resorting to unchristian and unhallowed methods to fill the treasury, God would be honored, and many more souls would be won to Christ.

På Israels tid var tienden og de frivillige gaver en forudsætning for, at gudstjenesten kunne gennemføres efter forskrifterne. Bør Guds folk give mindre i vor tid? Kristus lærte, at vore gaver til Gud bør stå i forhold til det lys og de privilegier, vi nyder godt af. "Enhver, som har fået meget givet, af ham skal man kræve meget." Luk. 12, 48. Frelseren sagde til sin disciple, da han sendte dem af sted: "I har fået det for intet, giv det for intet!" Matt. 10, 8. Bør vor taknemmelighed over de stadig voksende velsignelser og privilegier, vi modtager, og frem for alt over Guds Søns uforlignelige offer ikke give sig udslag i, at vi giver større gaver, så at andre kan få del i frelsens budskab? Efterhånden som evangeliet vinder større udbredelse, kræves der flere midler til at dække udgifterne. Derfor er det endnu mere påkrævet at give tiende og gaver nu end på den hebraiske nations tid. Hvis Guds folk gav frivilligt og rundhåndet til hans sag i stedet for at benytte ukristelige og verdslige metoder for at skaffe midler, ville Gud blive æret, og der ville blive vundet mange flere sjæle for Kristus.