Joy of Giving
Jesus Christ declared that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He had reference to the spiritual blessings that come to each of us as a result of giving. Money is of no value in and of itself. Its intrinsic value comes only at the time when we spend it for the things that we desire because their attainment satisfies our wants and adds to our joy. Human beings give money for one thing or another in order that their joy might be multiplied and become more complete.
There is a spiritualizing effect which always accompanies giving. This regenerative power blossoms into full fruition when it is actuated by a religious motive. The basic spiritualizing result obtained from obedience to the law of tithing is that it extracts greed, selfishness, and covetousness from one’s heart and soul and places there the godly attributes of charity of pure love.
As mortals follow along life’s highway, tasting the bitter as well as the sweet, they finally come to the realization that genuine joy lies in the realm of the spiritual and not in that of the physical. Real joy does not lie in the fact that we have an abundance of earthly possessions; but it comes as a result of rendering obedience to the commandments of God. Many of the humble people of the earth have learned through patience the validity of Paul’s warning words, wherein he said:
Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:6-7).
The joy which is worthwhile, lasting, and spiritual is the joy that comes in homes where the Spirit of God resides. This is brought about as a result of the family’s living in harmony with each other and in tune with their Maker. Both of the conditions are the direct result of keeping God’s holy commandments; and tithing, judging from its effect upon character, is one of the greatest of them. President George F. Richards aptly pointed out some of the immediate results which come to those who abide by the law of tithing:
When a member of the Church pays a full tithing, he has the satisfaction of knowing that he is in the favor of the Lord. It is an opportunity to us, brethren and sisters, to show the Lord that we are willing to make sacrifices for the cognizance of his mighty purposes in the earth, the saving of the souls of the children of men, for the tithes of the Church are a potent means of accomplishing that end. Those of us who have paid our tithing in full have done our full share in all that has been accomplished by the use of the tithing of the Church. (George F. Richards, Conference Report, p. 25, October 5, 1945). (Milton R. Hunter, “Will a Man Rob God?” The Laws and Doctrine of Tithing, Fast Offerings and Observance of Fast Day [Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1952], 143-44)
A Literal Burning
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man,” Jesus declared to his apostles (Luke 17:26; Matthew 24:37). Practically all of the people just prior to the coming of the flood doubted Noah’s words when he proclaimed to them that the earth would be destroyed by a great flood, nevertheless “ . . . the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27).
There are many skeptics and unbelievers today who do not think that the earth will actually and literally be destroyed by fire at the time of Jesus’ coming to reign. They reject the words of the prophets, as did the people in the days of Noah. They put a figurative interpretation on the numerous prophecies made on this subject by both ancient and modern men of God. Thus, they continue in their wicked pursuits, disbelieving the words of the Lord and rebelling against his holy laws; but just as sure as the night follows the day the earth shall be burned at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:39), “. . . and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble, . . . saith the Lord of hosts” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:9).
After quoting the revelation which declared that “he that is tithed shall not be burned at his [Jesus’] coming,” President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:
There are many who accept this declaration merely as a figure of speech; but it is a statement given in complete earnestness and solemnity . . . Again, it is not a figure of speech that is meaningless, or one not to be taken literally when the Lord speaks of the burning. All through the scriptures we have the word of the Lord that at his coming the wicked and rebellious will be as stubble and will be consumed . . . Surely the words of the Lord are not to be received lightly or considered meaningless.
We are all commanded to labor “while it is called today.” None shall be spared from this burning who “remain in Babylon.” Babylon is the world, those who remain in Babylon are those who follow the practices of the world, and who do not accept in their hearts the word of the Lord. He has said that he will send his angels in that day and they “shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation (Second Series), pp. 10-11; Matthew 13:41). (Ibid., 156-57)
Perfection Not Yet Attained
One of the main purposes of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the members of the Church might through the application of its saving principles perfect their lives preparatory for entrance into the presence of the Lord. Speaking of the membership of the Church individually, perfection has not yet been attained. There are many of Latter-day Saints who are not on the tithing records, and a vast number who pay no fast offerings unto the Lord. While these conditions exist it is the definite duty of every officer in the Melchizedek Priesthood and all of the leaders of the auxiliaries, not only to set an example by living the law of tithing and fast offering, but to teach those under their direction to keep God’s holy commandments.
In other words, those who are not paying their tithes and offerings unto the Lord should repent quickly while they have the opportunity, remembering that God has declared that “. . . he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31-33). (Ibid., 267-68)