Heaven's Income Tax
(Continued from page 6)
payee. As the tenant remits his monthly
rental, so 1s he who recognizes his duty and
responsibility to the world’s beneficent
Householder.
Tithing ix a remedy for covetousness,
since 1t 1s a constant reminder of our indi-
vidual duty to our Lord. He who is true in
his tithe cannot forget his God. The tithe
does not secure favors, nor is it compen-
sated with merit. Labor, sacrifice, or pen-
ance, however great or excruciating, cannot
merit the free gifts and good things from
our heavenly Father.
The true and humble tither ix not
prodded or compelled, as from any legal
requirement. His incentives are higher. In
his tithe he finds expression of his greatest
Joy, a token of his overflowing gratitude, a
means of conveying to others the glories
and benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As taxation is a test of good citizenship,
so the tithe might well be considered as a
test of loyalty to the supreme government
of the Most High, and recognition of God's
sovereign ownership of man and all his
possessions, and the source of his power to
get wealth and possessions.
It can be truthfully stated, after vears of
experience, that the returning to God of the
tenth part of our income does not bring
poverty. It does not make the tithers
objects of charity, or send them to the
poorhouse. On the contrary, however,
affliction, need, helplessness, and pauper-
sm seem to come to those who willinlly
neglect or ignore the principles of tithing.
David paid a tribute to faithfulness to God
in these words: “I have been voung, and
now am old; yet have I not seen the right-
eous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Psalm 37: 25. |
It should not be overlooked that tliere
are certain benefits to accrue to the one
who 1s faithful to his God in the matter of
tithing, and also certain conditions to be
experienced by those who are unfaithful.
We read: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye
have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein
have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offer-
ings. . . . Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in
Mine house, and prove Me now herewith,
saith the Lord of hosts, if T will not open
you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.” Malachi 3: 8-10.
God invites our loyalty. There are still
windows in heaven that can be opened and
shut. They swing outward for the humble,
honest believer and shower him with
bounties for his daily needs. They are
closed and bolted to him who flaunts and
disdains the beneficence of Heaven. God's
kindly invitation is: “Prove Me now,
herewith.” It is a challenge to the believer
and the unbeliever, a bid for loyalty and
honesty. If one brings all that he should,
God will bestow more than he is in need of.
One tenth is brought to the Lord, more
than can be used is taken away.
AUGUST, 1942
To simplify the process of determining
the amount of the tithe, and to provide a
date for accounting that cannot be over-
looked or mistaken, and the tither be in
default, His instructions are: “Upon the
first day of the week let every one of vou
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered
him, that there be no gatherings when 1
come.” 1 Corinthians 16: 2.
When the week has come to its close,
ponder the blessings that have accrued,
reckon the profits and income, and lay
aside a tenth, with other freewill offerings,
for the Lord and His work. Have it all
ready as a collection for the saints, to be
paid at the regular time and place for re-
ceiving such funds, as provided by the
church. If you have been faithful in vour
part, vou will not be disappointed in His
portion.
(Continued from page 5)
15 more unity today among the forces
charged with the responsibility of main-
taining our internal security than ever be-
fore. This is a happy contrast with the
confusion that existed in the first World
War, when more than a score of Federal
agencies were investigating spies and
saboteurs, with a resultant lack of co-
ordination and co-operation with the
various state and municipal groups.
In other words, we of law enforcement,
with the aid of a patriotic citizenry, are
fighting a common enemy upon a national
basis. We should fight him in exactly the
same manner that we fought and conquered
the kidnaper and his destructive forces.
Defense against fifth columnists cannot be
handled by posses or by citizen-groups op-
erating as vigilantes. It is the task of
constituted law enforcement, and it is not a
matter which can be taken into the hands of
private citizens, although we must have all
the help citizens can give us. There is a
great deal of difference between private
assistance and private action. One is a
great aid to us, the other a tremendous
hindrance.
Law enforcement in the United States is
better prepared today than ever before to
meet any challenges to our democratic
standards. There will be no blackout of
Justice in this country. Already we have
seen among us vile domestie forces that are
un-American. But they can hope to accom-
plish little, so long ax law-enforcement
agencies are on the Job and are given the
support that is typically American.
In publication only initials will be used.
® SCRIPTURE PROBLEMS SOLVED...
This is a service department where questions on religion, ethics, and Bible inter pre-
lation will be answered. Send questions to the editor.
To be answered, questions must be accompan‘ed by full name and address of the juestioner.
The Holy Spirit
S. Bb.
John 3:8 reads: “The wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit.”
The statement of the Master to Nico-
demus indicates that the work of the Holy
Spirit 1s not with outward observation, but
when the Spirit takes possession of the life
1t can accomplish things, though others do
not see the direction which it takes.
Our national Weather Bureau makes a
careful study of the changing winds, the
prevailing winds, and the trade winds;
and yet they cannot always foretell with
accuracy what our weather will be because,
as those winds strike colder temperatures,
their direction is changed, as well as their
velocity. So it is with the Spirit. If it has
free course in the life of the individual, the
Holy Spirit transforms that life; but if the
instrument is but partially yielded to God,
the work of the Spirit will be circumseribed.
The Sharp Sickle; The White Horse
Harmonize Revelation 1/4: 14 and Revela-
tion 19: 11,14,15. F. M.
No doubt both of these descriptions are
Please explain John 3: 8.
(¢
figurative. The sharp sickle, said to be in
the hand of Christ, evidently indicates that
He 1s ready to reap the earth, as the great
Harvester, for “the harvest is the end of
the world.” Matthew 13:39. In the 19th
chapter Christ is represented as appearing
against the kings of the earth, and the great
men, the chief captains, and the mighty
men, and arrayed against Him are the beast
(Catholicism) and the false prophet (apos-
tate Protestantism). He would stand
arrayed against the beast with its pope
and his triple crown, hence we read: ‘His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head
were many crowns. . . . His name is
called The Word of God.” This harmonizes
with John 1: 1-3. “The armies which were
in heaven followed Him,” that is, the angels
followed Him (see Matthew 25:31); and
as they came down that glory avenue, the
prophet appeared to behold them seated
upon white horses, indicating purity, and
clothed with fine linen, which is the right-
eousness of saints (see Revelation 19:8).
The sword which went out of His mouth is
the word of God (Ephesians 6:17), and it
13 that which is mentioned in the second
Psalm with which He smites the nations.
Concerning the sword which proceeded out
of His mouth, read Isaiah 11: 4,
NINETEEN
Page