All should remember that God’s claims upon us underlie every other claim. He gives to us bountifully, and the contract which He has made with man is that a tenth of his possessions shall be returned to God. The Lord graciously entrusts to His stewards His treasures, but of the tenth He says: This is Mine. Just in proportion as God has given His property to man, so man is to return to God a faithful tithe of all his substance. This distinct arrangement was made by Jesus Christ Himself. {6T 384.2}

Alle bør huske på, at Guds krav på os udgør grundlaget for ethvert andet krav. Han giver os rigeligt og den overenskomst, han har indgået med menneskene, er, at en tiendedel af deres indtægter skal gives tilbage til ham. I nåde betror Herren sine skatte til sine tjenere, men om tienden siger han: Denne er min. Nøjagtigt i samme forhold, som Gud har givet menneskene sin ejendom, skal de tilbagelevere en tiendedel af alt, hvad han giver dem. Denne særlige ordning er blevet truffet af Jesus Kristus selv.