Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed
me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and
offerings. Malachi 3:8
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of
all; Hebrews 7:1,2
"God's plan in the tithing system is beautiful
in its simplicity and equality. All may take hold of it in faith and courage,
for its divine in its origin. In it are combined simplicity and utility, and
does not require depth of learning to understand and execute it......He has
given his blood; He asks our silver. it is through His poverty that we are made
rich: and will we refuse to give back to Him His own gifts?...Systematic
benevolence should not be made systematic compulsion. It is freewill offerings
that are acceptable to God." Testimonies for the Church vol.3,
p.388,390,395 E.G.W.