Question:
In view of God’s plan of the tithe, enjoined in Leviticus and Malachi, is there any authority in the Scriptures for bazaars, fairs, etc., for raising money in churches? Is there any connection between these things and the Jewish customs when our Saviour cleansed the temple in Jerusalem?
Answer:
The exercise of pure benevolence is not for show, not to get something out of it ourselves, not to plan it so that it will cost us nothing. We will give from a sense of duty, from understanding the need of the cause for which we give, and from the love of God and humanity. All artificial means for benevolent or Christian purposes always have a downward tendency and eat out the spirit of pure benevolence. The temple of old became a regular market in which men sought to make gains in the sacrifices and oblations offered to God. In many makeshift ways of raising money today, people hope to give without sacrifice and be compensated in pleasure for all they give. We would do well to learn the principle set forth by King David:
“And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” (2 Samuel 24:20-24).
