Monday: Where Is the Storehouse?
Read Malachi 3:10. What can we learn from this verse about where our tithe should go?
Though specific directions are not given in the text, it is nevertheless evident that God’s people knew what He meant by the word “storehouse.” God does include in His directions, “that there may be food in My house” (NKJV). His people understood that God’s house initially was the sanctuary — the elaborate tent that was built by specific directions given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Later when Israel lived in the Promised Land, the central location was first in Shiloh and then more permanently at the temple in Jerusalem.
Read Deuteronomy 12:5-14. These verses do not indicate that God’s children could use their own discretion as to where their tithe was deposited. What principles can we take from these verses for ourselves today?
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
As members of God’s family, we want to understand and practice His will regarding what to do with our tithe. In the biblical narrative, we learn that three times in each year — Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles (Exodus 23:14-17) — God’s people were to travel to Jerusalem to bring their tithes and offerings personally and to praise and to worship God. Then the Levites distributed the tithe to their brethren all over the land of Israel (see 2 Chronicles 31:11-21, Nehemiah 12:44-47, Nehemiah 13:8-14). In harmony with this biblical central storehouse principle, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has designated the local conferences, missions, and unions of churches as storehouses on behalf of the world church, and from which the ministry is paid.
For the convenience of church members, the tithe is brought to the local church, where, as part of their worship experience, members bring their tithes and offerings, though some use online giving. The local treasurers then forward the tithe to the conference storehouse. This system of tithe management, outlined and ordained by God, has enabled the Seventh-day Adventist Church to have a worldwide and growing impact in the world.
| Imagine if everyone decided to give their tithe to whomever they wanted to, at the expense of the Adventist church itself. What would happen to our church? Why is that practice, then, such a bad idea and contrary to Scripture? |
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There is much more to this than ensuring that the priesthood was well fed. In fact, some of the priests were too well-fed. I rather gather that Eli was morbidly obese. The Hebrew tithing system was intentionally much more than just an income scheme for the temple functionaries and the priests, rather it also involved welfare and social interaction. One of the issues we note when we read the minor prophets is that when the Hebrews apostatized, the widows and orphans, and those who had gone into bondage to pay off debt were the first to suffer. They were at best ignored and often exploited. Sure, they chased after other gods, but in doing so ignored the big principle of unselfish love towards "the least of these".
The storehouse can be considered a metaphor that implies the wealth of the nation was to be shared for the benefit of the nation. Regarding the storehouse as a place to store the produce to feed the priests and Levites is too narrow an interpretation. Implying that the tithe in this passage is "the 10%" is also too narrow in this passage.
The Hebrews had lost the spirit of generosity and revealed a selfish egocentric vision. That was their big sin.
Hi Maurice - thank you for your candid comment. I came to the same conclusion - trying to see the bigger picture by considering the 'storehouse' to be a metaphore for the general sharing and caring for each other.
This verse tells us where the tithe would go -- to the Levites.
Yet the Levites were to return tithe on the tithe they received. Numbers 18:26, 28. That tithe was given to the priest.
We see the whole system was pretty centralized. The people were to bring the tithe to the place God would designate as His dwelling place. Deut. 12:5.
This place, once established, was Jerusalem's temple.
The tithe was not just for the priests. Only descendants of Aaron could be priests. Though all priests were Levites, many Levites could never be priests, yet they were servants, or guardians of the temple and its ministry.
The whole tribe of Levites, as servants of the temple, did not inherit land, only cities. There were 48 of these cities scattered throughout territories of Israel. (Numbers 35:7) Six of these cities had a very special task as they were designated as cities of refuge. All the other tribes were supposed to provide for this one tribe by bringing their gifts and tithe to the sanctuary.
In Nehemiah 10:37, 38, apparently there were some provisions made for people whose residences were far away and couldn't take their tithe to Jerusalem, they could take it to a city belonging to the Levites. The Levites then took the tithe to Jerusalem, to the house of God, to the chambers in the treasure house. Where it was disbursed back to the Levites in all their cities according to their needs.
It's true, the people weren't always faithful in paying tithe. There were periods of time when even the temple itself fell into neglect. The Levites' cities seemed to have some fields surrounding them, as the inhabitants often had to fend for themselves when the tithing system faltered, or failed completely.
As we read in Neh.13:10,
It appears to me from Nehemiah 10 that the “local church” collected tithes and then sent the tithe of that tithe to Jerusalem:
How do we know that they brought the whole tithe to Jerusalem and waited for the redistribution? This is a curiously for me since I also hear voices in the church suggesting that it should be a bottom up tithing system (members tithe to church, church tithes to local conference, etc..) rather than a top down redistribution system.
I really would like to know the answer to this also. And this is the first time I've heard of bottom up tithing system. It seems like a good idea.
Figuring out ways to return less to God is bound to result a negative experience! Nowadays the local church is generally supported by what we call "offerings," though we could as easily call it a portion of a second "tithe," like the Israelites returned to the Lord. Some years, this second tithe was shared with the Levites and the needy. Other years it was also used by families to spend for enjoying the appointed feasts.
The biblical first tithe always went to the Levites - those who were dedicated to the service of God and thus had no inheritance of land on which they could make their living. The Levites, in turn, tithed their portion to pass on to the priests, and it seems that's what may be happening in Nehemiah's time.
It seems that there were at least two tithes returned during OT times, and it is not totally clear just which tithe was referenced here:
It may, indeed, be the first tithe, and the Levites, who lived in their own cities, brought a tithe of that tithe to the temple to be used by the priests, as the instructions in Leviticus specified.
Nowadays we don't have a distinction between Levites and priests. Instead we have a denominational structure comprised of conferences, unions, and divisions of the General Conference. Pastors and other denominational workers tithe their income, just like the Levites did. Thus, while our system is not the same, I believe the same principles apply. In the end, it's between the Lord and us - how much we appreciate what He has done and is doing for us. Besides, there's that challenge in Malachi 3:10
God is a force of tremendous organization. Everything He creates is perfect. (Place a lens on any natural thing to see how the organization perspective is present on all levels).
Why do we live in this so precarious state on this planet, then? Why do I have to deal with pain and sufferings?
Our minds cannot grasp the infinity of God. But one thing I reason with you: Do you want to be efficient? Be organized! We all know about the popular saying "if you don't know where you're going, you won't get anywhere."
Have a plan! Prepare, organize, and be efficient! God is a God of order, and if He can place order even in the (sometime) chaos of my life, He can do this for anyone regarding anything. About the management of the tithes and offerings, the better organized, the most efficient they will be.
There many that send their tithe and offering to their country of origin. Is that a reasonable thing to do?
In reading Deut. 12, it seems like it was talking alot more about all the different types of offerings in addition to a tithe. We still give a tithe, but the offerings we give seem to have a different purpose. Can someone help me understand why we tithe but do not keep the other parts in Deut 12. I have never questioned tithing until these lessons. The more I read about it, it makes me worry that I am not doing everything I'm supposed to beyond tithing. I want to say that because of Jesus' atoning sacrifice, we don't have to give burnt offerings, wave/heave offerings, etc. But then, wouldn't that mean that we don't have to give tithes either? I need help understanding this to do what God commands. The end of Deut. 12 warns them to do all the things it says forever. I never noticed that and now I am unsure if that was just for them and what parts apply to me as a Christian.
The tithe was to support the people who kept the temple functioning.
When the temple services were appreciated, the people's worship of God tended to be much more healthy.
The other offerings were to take care of all the other things, like helping the poor. The Bible is pretty specific that the tithe was for the Levites, the keepers of the house of God.
And yes, we do have offerings now as well. The tithe is only the bare minimum. The tithe puts God first, and when we put God first, it tests our love for God. Our commitment and love for God is necessary for our love for our fellow humans to grow and prompt us to give more for their welfare.
Thank you Ulrike
Dear Chantra,
Unfortunately it seems that many of us have largely lost the concept of being managers of God's goods. For many people, it seems that they feel their financial responsibility ends at returning 10% of their income. But you are right that in the instructions to Israel, God asked for more - in fact He asked for two "tithes," and offerings were in addition to that.
Although, as a family, we have generally given 10% on top of the usual "tithe" since our college days many decades ago, this lesson has made me think that we've missed out on blessings given and blessings received by stopping there. As I understand it, when the Israelites were faithful, they spent 25% to 30% of their "increase" on religious purposes.
Paul tells us that we, as people who believe in Jesus, are the inheritors of the blessings of Abraham. That would seem to say that we are inheritors of the instructions to faithfulness as well. What do you think?
Thank you Inge
The Scripture verse Matt. 6:19-21 comes to mind when trying to determine the location of the ‘Storehouse’ of God. Could we not consider the designation ‘storehouse’ to be a metaphor for the place where all that which is good comes from and its increase returned to? James 1:17-19.
God created us in His image, instilling in us the capacity to give and share His abundance with others. Whereas in the Old Testament times the 'presence of God' was to be found in the physical structure of the temple and its system of worship, we know today, which was also true then, that we meet God by faith personally in our own body, heart and mind – His Temple – through the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6:19-20.
The children of Israel, as well as we, became the spiritual faith-children of God through His covenants with all that believe; training us and bringing us up to live rightly with each other. The tithes where part of this system established to transform the Hebrew's conduct to teach them to live peacefully with each other according to the Word of God.
To consider the ‘tithe’ and ‘tithing’ in a broader context - if we transfer this ‘training’ to today and call it ‘sanctification’, all that we do by faith according to the will of God can be considered a tithe which is laid up/returned to the ‘storehouse’ of His Mercy and Grace which meets all the needs of His faithful children.
I will first state the disclaimer that I have always returned tithe the way the church tells us to. I do agree that doing our own thing is contrary to the principles of the Bible and would result in chaos. Our system is far superior to the congregationalist model that most other churches follow which leaves some pastors filthy rich and most making below a reasonable wage.
However, the identification of the storehouse is somewhat arbitrary and I don't think every detail of our model came down from heaven. We could probably argue that the storehouse could be the General Conference, the local conference (with us returning our tithes at camp meeting each year - probably more in line with the OT), or perhaps some other level of organization. The system in the New Testament is not particularly specific either. Yes, there were definitely times they sent money to Jerusalem, but there is nothing that says all the tithes were sent to Jerusalem. I'm not sure that we should be super dogmatic about some of these things. I feel it could easily be a turn-off for those who are just beginning to tithe. I also think there may be a place for the church at times to consider how best tithes and offerings can be used today.
All this discussion about what is an increase and how to calculate it and obligations to give a double tithe and so on have some value, but I think they can push us away from the joy of partnering with God and seeing Him work when we do. We can't out-give God, but I think ultimately He wants us to give from an overflowing heart.
If it goes to the storehouse in their country, then I assume it is OK. Just my thought.
Can we send our tithes to independent ministries. These pastors are also called by God but the church doesnt hire them nd they are doing such tremendous work leading souls to christ!! Who feeds them as they are not wirking except beung independent ninisters?