14 THE CHURCH OFFICERS’ GAZETTE
Sharing: His One Tenth—My Nine Tenths
(Program for Week nding September 17}
i
L NoreEs To JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENTS: Before you leave the
ubject ioday, he sure that your Juniors have a clear under-
standing of the tithe. Diseuss with them just how it can he
paid—one cent out of ten cents, ete. Use a box with ten com-
partments, or make ten piles of money, to show how to find tho
tithe. Urge that cach Junior have a special place for his tithe
money, and that he be careful to tithe all that is given to him
or that he earns. If the Juniors do not have even money to
tithe, suggest that they give the Lord the henefit, or save the
éx{ra pennies to he tithed when enough more are received to
count ten again. [f they do not have money, hut have garden
produce or other income, suggest that they divide this, and
sell the tenth part, and give that money for the tithe. This
is the way it is done in foreign lands where the people do not
have the money with which to pay. Many times they bring
the tenth of their products to the missionary, who sells it, and
puts the money into the tithe box. The same is done in our
own land whenever the income is not in money itself.
Read the Notes to Senior Leaders also.
Tall: “The Main Motives for Tithing,” p. 11.
posium.
, Jlwstrated Talk: “Woights,” p. 10.
, Reading : “Stewardship,” see page 11.
MARIORIE WEST-MARSH.
Use as sym-
Rlackboard Motto: Qur Test
Our heavenly Father bestows gifts, and solicits a
portion back, that He may test us whether we are
worthy to have the gift of cverlasting life—*'Testi-
maontes,” Vol. 111, p, 408.
Story: Tithing Brought Blessing
ArMosT every one agrees that it is all right for well-to-do
people to pay tithe, “for they will have enough left.” But what
about the poor, those whe earn very little, and sometimes have
large families to feed and clothe and send to school? Should
{hey pay tithe?
If we take the Bihle as our guide, we ean find only one answer
to this question. God's ways are first of all just. In the
tithing plan He hds made it possible for the very poor as well
as the ricll to have a part in His work of saving men,
A minister who was teaching the duty of tithing once received
a letter from a very poor man, He and his wife had not been
Christians long, but they had heard of the duly of tithing,
and wished to know what to do. The man worked six days every
week, and for full time received only $8.25. The rent for their
rooms was $10 a month, groceries and milk eost $4 a week
(there were four children, the eldest only six), and 45 eents
a week went for the father’s car fare. This left, for fuel,
clothes, sickness, and all other expenses, only $1.30 a week.
“To tithe my pay will mean eighty-two and one-half cents a
week,” wrote the man; “and we are ready to do it if if is our
duty.”
The pastor who received tho letter did not know what to say.
But after praying over the matter, he advised the man to fol-
low the Liord’s plan, and trust Him for the promised blessing.
Four months later he received this letter:
“You will remember last fall my wife and I saw our duty
in regard to tithing, but eould not see ow we, with four little
children, could possibly tithe on a salary of $8.25 a week, How-
ever} on your advice, we enrolled in the Association of Christian
Stewards. Now the winter is nearly past, and we have heen
wonderfully cared for, and at times have been virtually clothed
and fed by God, apart from my wages altogether. I had no
overcoat when the winter hegan, and thought I would try to
get on without one. However, it was cold, and I saw it was
necessary, so I took the matter to the Lord in prayer. In two
weeks I wag in possession of three overcoats, given in such a
manner that even one overburdened with pride could net take
offense, and I was placed in a position to help some other poor
fellow. Then we prayed for warm clothes for my wife, and
almost immediately a relative sent some. Just before Christ-
mas my salary was increased, the increase about equaling the
amount of the tithe I could add other instances; hut if is
sufficient to say that in temporal things we have heen repaid
September, 1932
threefold, and in spiritual blessings a hundredfold, for our
obedience to God's money law.”
This man, poor and needy, accepted the Lord’s plan; and the
Lord, true to His gracious promise, richly blessed him. So will
He bless all those who return to Him His own.
“God reserves to Himself a portion of all that we receive.
When that is returned to Him, the remaining portion is blessed;
but when it is withheld, the whole is soconer or later eursed.
God’s claim is first; every other is secondary.”— T'estimonies
for the Church,” Vol. V, p. 150.
Lest We Forget
WHEN good old Jaeob learned to give
One tenth to God of all he had,
He found that he with ease could live,
And blessings came to make him glad.
Maybe you owe to Ged a debt.
Pay up at onee—lest you forget.
Tis said this law was set aside—
Some boast they are no longer hound;
But if love makes the path more wide,
It would a better way have found;
No better plar has reached us yet.
Pay up at onee—lest you forget,
“But I am very poor,” you say,
“With scares encugh to eat and wear”
Perhaps you’ve robbed God’s tenth away,
And lost the blessings He would share.
Of all men you are most in debi.
Pay up at onee—lest you forget.
— Victorian War Cry.
Story: The Lord’s Money Box
MorHER was busy mending stockings, when in rushed the chil-
dren.
“Do I have to put a tenth of my money I earn this week in
the Lord’s money box?” asked Rob, “If I do,” he added, “I
won't have enough te get my skates.”
“No,” said mother, “you don’t have to pay the Lord unless
vou wish to. You rememher I have told you that we really
owe Him one tenth of all we earn, and if we arc faithful in
bringing our tithes, He will bless us, So I want you to learn
to give willingly to Him.”
“Well, T want 10 give to Him, but I want my skates, too—
awful bad,” said Roh,
“So do I” added Howard, “and if you'll let us take the
money out of our tithe boxes, along with what we've got, wed
have enough”
“ ‘Will a man roh God? quoted mother. “And would my lads
do so, too?”
A few months earlier, grandpa had promised the older lads 5
per cent of the milk cheek for doing the milking. Howard was
to reccive five cents a week for gathering eggs. Mother had
tithed her small earnings for several years, but this was the
boys’ first ehanee to learn both to earn and to give, They had
each hunted up a box for their Lord’s money, and had proudly
placed them by mother’s, All had gone smoothly until now.
Satan was tempting the boys to spend this part of their
nioney.
“Before you decide whether to take your tithe money or not,
I will tell you a true story,” said mother. “It will prove to you
how Satan tempts all of us. You remember the $30 I earned
last Christmas? You know, t0o, how hard it was for grandpa
to feed and clothe all of us, with debis to meet. When that
$30 came, I must tell you, boys, I almost hated to put $3 in
my tithe box. You all needed shoes and underwear, and the
$3 looked pretty big. I sent Harold down town with the $30
check, and when he eame home, I found that he had been short-
changed a dollar. Now, listen, boys. Right away a voice said
to me, ‘Just eall that lost dollar one of the Lord’s. He can
altord to lose that better than you ean. Just think of the things
you need!” Who do you suppose said that to me?”
“Satan” solemnly answered Rob.
“Yes,” replied mother. “And do you remember, Rob, how I
took the tithe money to the treasurer right away? I wanted to
pay the Lord quick, so Satan couldn't tempt me to spend it for
something else, You ses he fries big folks, too; and I am tell-
ing you this so you will understand and be on the watch.
Have you obtained your Ingathering supplies from your church missionary secretary?