What Is The Storehouse Where The Tithes Go?
Things in the Old Testament were given for us to have examples
of what to do and what not to do. Paul shows us this.
1 Cor 10:6 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent
we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (KJV)
1 Cor 10:11 11 Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
Obviously Paul is reciting some of Israel's history for us to
profit from their example. Much of the Old Testament is still
for our examples today. For instance, Malachi records that God
commanded for the tithes to be brought into the storehouse.
Mal 3:10 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith,
saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it. (KJV)
The first question about this for us Christians today is this.
What is this "storehouse?" Again the Old Testament pattern will
answer this for us.
"Storehouse" is not the only word used to describe what this
"storehouse" means. In 1 Chronicles 26:20, the word used is
"treasures." In Nehemiah 13: 13 the word used is "treasuries."
In 2 Chronicles 31:11, Nehemiah 12:44 and 13:5 the word
"chambers" is used to describe the concept behind "storehouse."
Finally, in Nehemiah 10:38, both the words "chambers" and
"treasure house" is used.
>From the above, we can readily see that "storehouse" is a place
for God's treasures of tithes. But what are these treasures to
be used for. This is the second question for us Christians
concerning bringing our tithes into the storehouse.
Compare all the Scriptures given above. Without exception, the
treasures, meat, prey and/or spoil brought into the store house
were for the support of the ministry.
This includes both buildings and ministers. They were for the
support of the Levites all the way down to the most humble
servant. These ministers and their helpers were the recipients
of the benefits of the storehouse treasures.
None, absolutely none, of the ministers and helpers were to be
left out. All of them were to receive their part.
These two things, then, were to be cared for from the storehouse
treasures: the buildings and equipment and those who ministered
in them and with them.
Today, many wonder why they tithe and the large blessings
promised to them in return, do not seem to come their way. Could
it be the storehouse they use does not support every member of
the ministry like the above Scriptures plainly show?
Many storehouses today simply don't recognize some God ordained
mimistries. They will recognize workers in their organization,
but not some of those in the Scriptures. These storehouses will
fail to generate the large blessings promised to the tithers.
This is the reason why God instructed us to abound to "every
good work." "Abound" here translates a word that means "to make
wealthy." We are to support God's "every good work" to the point
of "making it wealthy."
In so doing, the promise of large blessings kicks in again for
us. He said He would "abound" to us. He will also "make us
wealthy." At the very least, He will meet our needs.
This is the "storehouse." This "storehouse" takes care of both
buildings, ministers and contains the Malachi romise: "blessings
so large there will not be room enough to receive it!"