God desires all His stewards to be exact in following divine arrangements. They are not to offset the Lord's plans by performing some deed of charity, or giving some gift or some offering, when or how they, the human agents, shall see fit. It is very poor policy for men to seek to improve on God's plan, and invent a makeshift, averaging up their good impulses on this and that occasion, and offsetting them against God's requirements. God calls upon all to give their influence to His own arrangement. He has made His plan known; and all who would co-operate with Him must carry out this plan, instead of daring to attempt an improvement on it. GW 225.2 The Lord instructed Moses, for Israel, “Thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they may bring thee pure oil olive beaten for light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” [ Exodus 27:20 .] This was to be a continual offering, that the house of God might be properly supplied with that which was necessary for His service. His people today …
"And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always."
Ellen White directly references Exodus 27:20 in this passage.
"A very plain, definite message has been given to me for our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects, which, though good in themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe should be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord's arrangement. God will judge for these things. GW 226.2"
"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 echoes the sentiment of Malachi 3:8, which questions whether a man will rob God and identifies the misuse of tithes and offerings as a form of robbery.
"One reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used—the support of the ministers. There should be today in the field one hundred well-qualified laborers where now there is but one. GW 226.3"
"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?"
Both passages discuss the support of ministers/those who serve in religious roles. EGW's passage focuses on the proper use of tithe for this purpose, while 1 Corinthians 9:13 establishes the principle that those who minister should be supported.
"God because you think the management of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right. GW 226.4"
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."
Both passages advocate for addressing grievances directly and privately before escalating them. EGW applies this principle to concerns about church management, while Matthew 18:15 addresses personal offenses.