1 Corinthians 9:14

Ordained. Gr. diatassō, “to arrange,” “to appoint,” “to give order.” God has arranged that in general His ministers on earth shall be relieved of the dual responsibility of preaching the gospel and providing for their own material needs. Jesus sent out His disciples into the towns and villages of Palestine and told them to make no provision for their physical needs—that was the responsibility of those among whom they labored (see Matt. 10:9, 10; Luke 10:7). God told the Israelites that one tenth of all their possessions was His and they were duty bound to pay a faithful tithe to the priests in the Temple (see Lev. 27:30, 32; Num. 18:21; Mal. 3:10, 11; Heb. 7:5). Jesus endorsed this plan when He was on earth (see Matt. 23:23). Thus the pattern has been clearly laid down for the divinely ordained method that the Christian church is to follow for the material support of the ministry. Israel of old departed from the plain instructions of God in this matter, and they were cursed (see Mal. 3:8, 9). Failure to pay God that which is His exposes the professed Christian to the same curse that was pronounced on Israel, whereas loving, willing compliance with this just and equitable requirement qualifies the believer to claim the wonderful promise that is given to the obedient tithepayer (see Mal. 3:10-12). Man is by nature extremely selfish. He naturally follows the example of the great adversary of truth who lost his exalted position in heaven by cultivating the desire to exalt self (see Isa. 14:12-15; Jer. 17:9).

Tithe paying and the giving of offerings provide a continual check against man’s selfishness, in addition to helping him to place his reliance on God and not on material things of this world (see Matt. 6:19-21). So it becomes apparent that tithe paying and the giving of offerings for the support of the ministry and the advancement of the work of God throughout the earth bring blessings to both giver and receiver. Selfishness is checked, and interest is created and sustained in the work of the church. At the same time, those who have given themselves to the work of the ministry are adequately provided for without the burden and anxiety of trying to attend to secular matters as well as spiritual things.

Should live. If all church members are faithful in tithe paying and the giving of offerings, there will be an abundant supply of means for carrying forward the work of the gospel. More laborers can be employed and the coming of the Lord hastened. It is the duty of ministers to educate church members in this matter of church finance, in order that the believers may receive the blessings God has promised to those who comply with His plan in this matter, and also to promote the interests of the worldwide proclamation of the gospel (see 2 Cor. 8:4-8, 11, 12; 9:6-12; AA 345).