In Partnership With God

In Partnership With God (Part 1 of 2)

What more thrilling moment comes in life than the wedding ceremony; when two hearts unite as one? Objectives become one. Ambitions and interests unite in one purpose. Husband and wife work together as partners to make a home and rear a family. This oneness gives life a glamour—makes it an adventure to which nothing else can compare.

When a man unites his heart with the heart of Christ, life becomes a partnership just as real and even more thrilling than any merely earthly relationship. The Christian finds pleasure in the purposes of God. His home, his family, even his bank account—all are shared with Christ. He and Christ are partners in a spiritual union. Jesus prayed that His followers would come into close partnership with Him, just as He is one with the Father.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” —John 17:20, 21.

Our partnership with Christ lifts us out of our old nature of selfishness and self-seeking and implants in our hearts the generosity of God, who “so loved the world, that HE GAVE.” —John 3:16. Unselfishness, sacrifice, giving, even to the undeserving—these qualities are characteristic of God. They become character traits of the one who through a spiritual union with Jesus, the God-man, is controlled by His Spirit.

There is no adventure in life equal to that of having God as a partner. There is no thrill comparable to that of knowing that we are co-workers with God in helping Him build the kingdom of peace and righteousness. Taking God into partnership assures us of an inner satisfaction and joy not possessed by those who work solely to acquire wealth or fame.

During his last days, General Booth of the Salvation Army was asked if he had any message for his Christian soldiers. His one-word answer was, “Others.”

In Partnership With God (Part 2 of 2)

Selfishness is sin and is of the devil. Selflessness is Christlike and is of God. There is no such thing as a selfish Christian, for the very name Christian implies that we receive the unselfish nature of Jesus.

Pastor H. M. S. Richards was one day about to baptize a new convert when he noticed the man's well-filled billfold in his pocket. He asked the man if he had forgotten to leave his money in the dressing room. To which the man answered, “My pocketbook and I will be baptized together.” This represents the true spirit of Christianity—giving to help others.

Jesus taught that love is the fulfilling of the law. When the rich young man came to Him with the question of how to obtain eternal life, Jesus tested the measure of his love by telling him to sell his goods and give to the poor. How many Christians profess Christ but never experience and reflect His spirit of sacrifice and of preferring others before themselves?

The devil constantly attempts to keep us from possessing the self-sacrificing spirit of Christ. One evening a man sat in church and listened to his minister's call for money to spread the gospel. His heart was touched. He felt that he should give. But the devil kept whispering, “Don't give! Don't give!” But the man determined to give anyhow. So the devil eased off a little and whispered, “Don't give much, don't give much.” Just at the time the collection plate came his way, quickly the man threw his purse into the plate and said, “There now, Selfishness; squirm—will you!”

The apostle Paul counsels:

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said; IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” —Acts 20:35.

1. WEALTH THAT NEVER MELTS AWAY

In this world, a host of things may rob us of all we have saved for a rainy day. Jesus tells us how to bank our money so it cannot be affected by any of these earthly dangers.

“LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURE IN HEAVEN, where neither moth, nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” —Matthew 6:20, 21.

Perhaps you have read Henry Van Dyke's story, “Mansions,” in which he tells of the millionaire who dreamed that he went to heaven. On arrival he asked to be shown his mansion. He anticipated having one of the finest homes in the Holy City. But to his amazement he found that his poverty-stricken gardener had a dazzling home awaiting him, while he himself had but a humble cottage.

When he asked for an explanation of what appeared to him to be a mistake, he was told that the heavenly mansions are built with whatever is sent in advance to the kingdom of God. The poor gardener had sacrificed to send all he possibly could, but the rich man had spent his money on his own glory and fame. Sacrifice had not been a part of his life on earth. His money had not been banked with God.

A man works a lifetime to amass a fortune but how much of it goes with him when he dies? Not a penny! But what a man gives to bless others and to advance the kingdom of God will have eternal value.

In frontier days, a man stood by his weeping wife. Their home lay in ashes. In one short hour everything they had was gone. Now they were penniless.

At church the next week they were presented with a purse of money by Christian friends who wanted to help them get started again. As the husband stood to thank the donors, he said: “All that I had saved for myself, I have lost. It has gone up in smoke. But all that I gave away, I still have.”

This gift convinced him of the Bible truth, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1. He had learned that earthly wealth may vanish in an instant. But not so the riches we store up with God. Jesus clearly instructs us:

“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. … And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” —Luke 12:15, 29-31.

If we look only for wealth and happiness in this life, we are shortchanging ourselves. God plans something vastly better for us, both in this life and in the life to come.

As you compare your own nature with the divine spirit of unselfishness, how do you measure up? Are you storing your wealth in the bank of heaven?

2. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD

Because God made the earth, He claims it as His possession.

“The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” —Psalm 24:1.

God's claim includes all the wealth in the world:

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” —Haggai 2:8.

And He claims every man, woman, and child in this world as “his people and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3.

In the Garden of Eden, for a taste of forbidden fruit, man sold out to the devil his right to the dominion of this earth. Therefore Jesus came to redeem the lost world.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” —Luke 19:10.

To win back the world, God paid the highest price that Heaven could name—the life of His own Son. This earth and every person on it are thus doubly the possession of God—His by creation, and His by redemption.

“FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” —1 Corinthians 6:20.

Not only are this world and its inhabitants the possession of God, but we are completely dependent upon Him for sustaining life. The Bible tells us of God's keeping power:

“Upholding all things by the word of his power.” —Hebrews 1:3.

“In him we live, and move, and have our being.” —Acts 17:28.

“Seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” —Acts 17:25.

The Word of God reminds us that our ability to make money is also a gift from God.

“Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER TO GET WEALTH.” —Deuteronomy 8:18.

It is said that a farmer expends only 5 percent of the effort it takes to grow a crop of corn. God adds the remaining 95 percent and, with His blessing, a bountiful crop results. What would happen if He forgot His part?

God does not need a penny of ours. He could create every dollar He needs to complete His work on earth. He need not depend on us to tell the gospel story, for if we should fail He could make the very stones cry out. (Luke 19:40.) He could use heavenly messengers to tell lost men everywhere about the cross of Calvary and about Christ's second coming in the clouds of heaven. He is not dependent on man to finish His work. It could be completed without our help.

But God loves us. He wants us as His partners. He wants to share with us His joy in service. He wants us to delight in the work He is doing for a lost world.

3. PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD IN GIVING

Big business depends on high finance. Industries are run on budgets and cost accounting.

God's business is the biggest business on earth—the winning of others to Christ. Is God less wise in financing His work on earth than are ordinary businessmen? Does God intend His church on earth to be operated on a hit-or-miss system? That is not like God. “Order is heaven's first law.”

But what can I, with a heart full of love and longing to serve Him, do about it? We are in partnership with Christ in sacrifice and service, workers together with God.

“We then, as WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” —2 Corinthians 6:1.

Since Eden, God's people have been His partners, not only in service, but also in giving.

4. OLD TESTAMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD

Long before the Jews existed as a people, God had established a plan for financing His work on the earth. We read of Abraham's paying tithes to Melchizedek, the “priest of the most high God.” “And he [Abraham] gave him tithes of all.” Genesis 14:18, 20. Abraham lived 430 years before the Israelites—later called the Jews—entered the land of Palestine.

Many years later Jacob, fleeing from his angry brother, made this covenant with God:

“Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give THE TENTH unto thee.” —Genesis 28:22.

The tithing system was thus a sacred trust committed to Abraham and Jacob, the forebears of Israel. At Mount Sinai it was given to the Israelite nation. The Lord made it clear to Israel that the tithe belonged to Him and that it was holy—set apart for the sacred work of their spiritual leaders.

“All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord.” —Leviticus 27:30.

“I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” —Numbers 18:21.

The Old Testament story ends with this indictment of God's chosen people:

“Will a man rob God? Yet YE HAVE ROBBED ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” —Malachi 3:8, 9.

God's people had lost the spirit of heaven. They had become selfish, grasping, and greedy. And, since selfishness is sin, they were under a curse. What a sad ending to the history of the Old Testament church!

5. NEW TESTAMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD

God expects from the New Testament church the same carefulness in handling His business as He did from the Old Testament church.

When Jesus came to live among men, He found the devout Pharisees counting and tithing even the tiny garden seeds. While He did not approve of their legalistic religion, He placed His approval on tithing in New Testament times; He said:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for YE PAY TITHE of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, and not to leave the other undone.” —Matthew 23:23.

Systematic giving in a sacrificial spirit is also just as much a part of being a child of God now as it ever was. God never changes. The New Testament Christian should be as self-sacrificing and liberal as the child of God in Old Testament times.

Jesus had much to say about faithful stewardship in the things of God. He related the parable of the talents to teach faithfulness in doing God's business. He spoke of the unjust steward, and commended faithful stewards.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” —Luke 16:10, 11.

The principle of tithing is a moral principle, for it involves character. Honesty in tithing is a test of our Christianity. The man who refuses to pay his taxes to the city, state, or nation is disloyal to his country. He is refusing to support the power that protects him and provides him with many of the necessities.

How can a Christian who robs his Maker of tithes and offerings be considered loyal to the kingdom of heaven? God says that such a person is guilty of robbing Him.

“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.

“NOR THIEVES, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, SHALL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” —1 Corinthians 6:10.

Paul stresses tithing in the New Testament church. He points out that just as the tithe supported the Temple priests, so it is to support the ministers of the Christian church today.

“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath THE LORD ORDAINED THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL.” —1 Corinthians 9:13, 14.

6. PARTNERSHIP THROUGH TITHING

God claims the tithe as His property. The word “tithe” means one tenth.

“And concerning THE TITHE of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, THE TENTH shall be holy unto the Lord.” —Leviticus 27:32.

One tenth of our increase belongs to God.

“Thou shalt truly tithe all THE INCREASE of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” —Deuteronomy 14:22.

Increase means profit, or net gain. The farmer tithes his year's profits. The businessman tithes his net gain. The workingman turns his time into money. His salary or wage is an increase; therefore, he tithes that income. Gifts are also an increase of our possessions. When our profit or increase is $1,000, our tithe is one tenth of that, or $100.

To the unselfish Christian, it is a real privilege to return to God the tenth of his increase. The tithe is to be carefully set aside for God's work before we use the other nine-tenths. It is holy to Him. It should never be borrowed. Certainly it should never be kept, for God calls that robbery.

If God's people of all denominations would abound in this grace of giving, there would be ample support for Christian missions, hospitals, ministers, churches, educational institutions, gospel radio and television programs. The work of God would lack nothing, and soon the promise of Christ would be fulfilled:

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” —Matthew 24:14.

If all those who believe in God and in the Holy Scriptures would return to God the tithe which belongs to Him, and in addition give liberal offerings to His cause, the spiritual atmosphere of the world would change. We need to remember the words of Jesus:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” —Mark 12:17.

Caesar demands his tax payments. Men often forget their duty to God; yet all things belong to Him. Our Creator gives us every heartbeat, every breath. We could not earn a cent without the life He gives us.

As stewards of goods He has entrusted to us, we are to use these possessions for His glory, to benefit humanity, to be a blessing to the world. (Matthew 25.) Jesus said, “Ye shall be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8.) What a witness is borne to unbelievers when God's children are faithful in tithes and offerings! If all Christians were faithful stewards, what a spiritual revolution it would bring to our land—yes, to the whole world, and especially to our own hearts!

7. WHAT GOD PROMISES TO FAITHFUL PARTNERS (Part 1 of 2)

“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 I WILL not OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKES, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” —Malachi 3:10, 11.

These are wonderful promises. To the faithful tither, God promises to pour out blessings far beyond our needs. He promises to protect the farmer against losing his crop before the fruit has set, or later from devouring insects. We may not be farmers, but these same promises of God's watchcare apply to every faithful tither today.

To those who are faithful in returning the tithe and giving offerings, God still opens the windows of heaven and pours out blessings without measure. He still rebukes the devourer. As a general rule, Christians who are faithful in tithing are well provided for. And, even though sparse times may come to the Christian, God fulfills this promise by giving spiritual blessings—peace of heart.

God has often poured out unusually abundant material blessings upon a faithful tithepayer.

Take William Colgate, founder of the Colgate Company, who tithed his first “soap” dollar. He prospered. He doubled his tithe. He prospered more. He tripled his tithe. God kept His word to Mr. Colgate.

Kraft of Kraft cheese, Heinz of the Heinz Company, Crowell of Quaker Oats, Hershey of candybar fame, and J. C. Penney have proved God's promises. They have all testified that God never fails.

God's warning in Malachi 3:8-12 against robbing Him includes both “tithes and offerings.” His challenge, “Prove me now,” also includes both tithes and freewill offerings. You too may accept God's challenge, “Prove me now.” Taking God at His word, will you go into partnership with Him? He will not fail you. God keeps His word.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you.” —Luke 6:38.

7. WHAT GOD PROMISES TO FAITHFUL PARTNERS (Part 2 of 2)

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP ALSO BOUNTIFULLY. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.” —2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.

H. M. S. Richards tells the following experience:

A lifelong gambler attended my meetings in Los Angeles, and I shall never forget the time I talked with him alone in the rear of the auditorium. He took a roll of bills from his pocket—$500 it was—and gave them all to me, saying, “This is my first tithe.”

The man was not well, and had done nothing but gamble for thirty or forty years, so I said, “How are you going to live?”

He replied, “I have only five or six dollars left, but this other belongs to God.”

Then I asked, “What will you do?”

“I don't know,” he answered, “but I know that I must pay my tithe to God, and He will take care of me.”

And God certainly did. The man's repentance was sincere. He went all the way in his consecration and was happy in his Christian life. And God provided for him to the day of his death.

The Christian may not become a rich man, but he still has God. He still has heart peace. He still has the assurance that his Maker will supply the necessities of life. After observing thousands of people during his lifetime, the psalmist concluded:

“I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” —Psalm 37:25.

Christ gave all for us. Certainly we must be fully consecrated to Him. We must give our hearts to Him today. We must accept His atonement upon the cross. Let us seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added” unto us. (Matthew 6:33.) Let us do it now, in His name.