God has been robbed in tithes and offerings. It is a fearful thing to be guilty of withholding from the treasury or of robbing God. Ministers who preach the word at our large gatherings feel the sinfulness of neglecting to render to God the things that are His. They know that God will not bless His people while they are disregarding His plan of benevolence. They seek to arouse the people to their duty by pointed, practical discourses, showing the danger and sinfulness of selfishness and covetousness. Conviction fastens upon minds, and the icy chill of selfishness is broken. And when the call is made for donations to the cause of God, some, under the stirring influence of the meetings, are aroused to give who otherwise would do nothing. As far as this class is concerned, good results have been realized. But under pressing calls many feel the deepest who have not had their hearts frozen up with selfishness. They have conscientiously kept their means flowing out to advance the cause of God. Their whole being is stirred by the earnest appeals made, and the very ones respond who may have given all that their circumstances in life would justify. {3T 409.2}

Gud er blevet frarøvet tiende og gaver. Det er en frygtelig ting at være skyldig i at tilbageholde noget fra forrådskammeret eller frarøve Gud. Prædikanter som forkynder ordet ved vore store forsamlinger føler forsømmelsessynden for at give Gud det som er hans. De ved at Gud ikke vil velsigne hans folk når de lader hånt om hans godgørenhedsplan. De forsøger at vække folket til deres pligt ved tydelige, praktiske prædikener, vise selviskhedens og begærlighedens farer og syndighed. Sindene overbevises og selviskhedens isnende kulde brydes. Og når kaldet gives til Guds sags givere, vækkes nogle, ved mødernes oprørende indflydelse, til at give. Mennesker, som ellers ikke ville give noget. Så vidt det angår denne klasse, er (410) der set gode resultater. Men under pressende kald føler mange det gode dybt nede, som ellers er frosset af selviskhed. De har samvittighedsfuldt ladet deres midler flyde til Guds sags fremme. Hele deres væsen er oprørt af de alvorlige appeller og netop de svar som har givet alt hvad deres livs omstændigheder ville forsvare.