Ministers of God should bear the pointed testimony. The living truths of His word should be brought to bear upon the heart. And when the people in Ohio have a worthy object placed before them, those whose hearts are in sympathy with the work will freely impart of their means to advance the cause of God. The Lord is testing and proving His people. If any have no heart in the work, and fail to bring their offerings to God, He will visit them; and if they continue to cling to their covetousness, He will separate them from His people. I saw that there must be a system which will draw upon all. Young men and young women who have health and strength, have felt but little burden of the work. They are accountable to God for their strength, and should bring a freewill offering to the Lord. And if they will not do this, His prospering hand will be removed from them. 1T 238.1 I saw that the special hand of God has not been with the work in Ohio to prosper the cause there. There is a lack; there s…
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
The EGW passage directly addresses the issue of offerings and the consequences of withholding them, mirroring the core theme of Malachi 3:8 regarding robbing God in tithes and offerings. The language and concept are very similar.
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
The EGW passage emphasizes the importance of giving freely and willingly, which aligns with the principle in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves a cheerful giver. Both passages highlight the attitude and motivation behind giving.
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."
Both passages deal with the consequences of dishonesty and withholding offerings from God. While the EGW passage speaks of being 'separated from His people' and having God's 'prospering hand removed,' the Acts passage provides a dramatic example of immediate divine judgment. The underlying theme of accountability and the danger of deceit in giving is present in both.
I have seen that those who have had but a few years’ experience in the cause of present truth, are not the ones to lead out in the work. Such should manifest a delicacy in taking positions which will conflict with the judgment and opinion of those who witnessed the rise of the cause of present truth, and whose lives are interwoven with its progress. God will not select men of but little experience to lead out in this work. He will not choose those who have had no experience in the sufferings, trials, opposition, and privation endured to bring this work up to the platform on which it now rests. It is now easy, compared with what it once was, to preach the third angel's message. Those who now engage in this work, and teach the truth to others, have things made ready at their hand. They cannot experience such privations as laborers in present truth have endured before them. The truth is brought out for them. Arguments are all prepared. Such should be careful how they become exalted, lest …
"Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."
The EGW passage warns against inexperienced individuals taking leadership roles, echoing the sentiment in 1 Timothy 3:6 that a novice should not be appointed to leadership to avoid pride and potential downfall. Both passages emphasize the importance of experience and humility in leadership.
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."
Both passages deal with the selection of leaders and the importance of experience. The Numbers passage speaks of God choosing elders to share Moses' burden, while the EGW passage discusses the importance of experienced individuals leading out in the work of present truth. The connection is thematic, but not a direct allusion.