How to Count Ten
Tithing is a way to prove God's Word and open the windows of heaven on your soul by giving one dime out of every dollar to God's treasury.
Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of tithing, addressing common excuses such as not understanding it. He simplifies the concept by explaining that tithing involves giving one dime out of every dollar to God's treasury, while still keeping the rest for necessities. Vess encourages consistent practice of tithing, highlighting the blessings that come from giving generously. He warns against the love of money over God, stressing that tithing is a reflection of our faithfulness and trust in God's provision.
Text
13. Excuse Thirteen: "Tithing may be all right, but I just can't understand it." People of all ranges of intelligence understand it enough to practice it, and I think I can tell you how, as follows: when you get your pay check or envelope, or gather your crop, just count out one dime out of every dollar and put it in God's treasury and keep the rest for the necessities of life, -- except that you may be blessed by giving special gifts and offerings all along out of the nine tenths, for "It IS more blessed to give than to receive." Do you understand it now? It will become easy as you practice it, and it will not be long until you can count ten without difficulty. You count ten for the Lord just as you do for yourself, -- using the same figures.
In case you do get confused, just tithe all that has not been tithed, and the rest will take care of itself. If you get too much confused, just remember that it will be untangled at the judgment, when the mist will clear away.
Finally, my brethren, if you want to follow Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Malachi, Jesus Christ,and the Apostle Paul: "Bring ALL your tithe into the STOREHOUSE" and give God a chance to prove his Word and open the windows of heaven on your soul. If you prefer to follow the NewTestament, just "lay by in store each Sabbath as God prospers you," and you will be doing the same thing, and getting the same blessing and living under the same open heaven. You backslide over robbing God just as you do by robbing men.
"If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (earthly riches), who will commit to your trust the true riches" -- salvation. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon," -- earthlyriches. The real reason back of most excuses for not tithing is that people love money more than they love God and his cause and servants, Think it over in the light of a lost world and a bankrupt church. Ye cannot love God and money. No excuse will do. "And they all with one consent began to make excuse." and the Lord said, "None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." Will the above excuses save you or others? Bringing all the tithes into the Storehouse will help save you and others.
Sermon Outline
- I. Understanding Tithing
- A. Counting out one dime out of every dollar
- B. Putting it in God's treasury
- C. Keeping the rest for necessities of life
- II. Practicing Tithing
- A. Counting ten for the Lord
- B. Using the same figures as for oneself
- III. Overcoming Confusion
- A. Tithing all that has not been tithed
- B. Remembering that it will be untangled at judgment
- IV. Following Biblical Examples
- A. Bringing all tithe into the storehouse
- B. Laying by in store each Sabbath as God prospers
Key Quotes
“It IS more blessed to give than to receive.” — Arthur Vess
“Bring ALL your tithe into the STOREHOUSE” — Arthur Vess
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon,” — Arthur Vess
Application Points
- Practice tithing by counting out one dime out of every dollar and putting it in God's treasury.
- Remember that tithing is a way to prove God's Word and open the windows of heaven on your soul.
- Don't let excuses hold you back from tithing, think it over in the light of a lost world and a bankrupt church.