The Central Storehouse: The Biblical Model

1
The Central Storehouse The Biblical Model

• By G. Edward Reid, Director Stewardship
  Department North American Division

2
It is a simple as 1-2-3
3

• The Gospel Principle

4

• 1. I am a sinner and subject to death.
• Rom. 323 For all have sinned and fall short of
  the glory of God.
• Rom. 623 For the wages of sin is death.

5

• 2. By faith I understand that Jesus took my
  place.
• Rom. 58 While we were still sinners, Christ
  died for us.
• Isa. 535 He was wounded for our transgression.

6

• 3. Jesus has promised eternal life to those who
  believe.
• John 316 Whoever believes in Him should not
  perish but have everlasting life.
• Rom. 623 The gift of God is eternal life in
  Christ Jesus our Lord.

7

• The Tithe Principle

8

• 1. The tithe is holy and belongs to God.
• Lev. 2730 All the tithe of the landis the
  Lords. It is holy to the Lord.

9

• God asks me to return the tithe to the
  storehouse.
• Mal. 310 Bring all the tithes into the
  storehouse.
• Deut. 125, 6 But you shall seek the place
  where the Lord your God choosesThere you shall
  take your tithes.
• Num. 1821 I have given the children of Levi
  all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in
  exchange for the work which they perform, the
  work of the tabernacle of meeting.

10

• God has promised blessings to those who obey.
• Deut. 281, 2 If you diligently obey the
  voice of the Lord your God, to observe
  carefully all His commandmentsall these
  blessings shall come on you and overtake you.
• Prov. 39, 10 Honor the Lord with your
  possessions, and with the firstfruits of all
  your increase so your barns will be filled with
  plenty, and your vats will overflow with new
  wine.
• Mal. 310 Prove me now in this says the Lord
  of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows
  of heaven and pour out for you such blessing
  that there will not be room enough to receive
  it.

11
Tithing in the New Testament

• The New Testament does not reenact the law of
  the tithe, as it does not that of the Sabbath
  for the validity of both is assumed, and their
  deep spiritual import explained. . . . While we
  as a people are seeking faithfully to give to God
  the time which He has reserved as His own, shall
  we not also render to Him that portion of our
  means which He claims? (Counsels on
  Stewardship, p. 66)

12
Jesus Endorsed Tithing

• In Jesus lengthy condemnation of the Pharisees
  (Matthew 2313-36), He noted that they were
  meticulous about tithing even to the point of
  tithing small portions of herbs. He did not,
  however, criticize this practice but rather
  stated, These you ought to have done, without
  leaving the others undone (the weightier matters
  of justice, mercy, and faith) (vs. 23). It is
  clear from this passage that Jesus felt tithing
  was appropriate and right.

13

• In Lukes account, Jesus has accepted the
  invitation of a Pharisee for dinner. The
  Pharisee noted that Jesus had not washed His
  hands before eating. Jesus responded that the
  Pharisees were clean on the outside but on the
  inside were very wicked. Then Jesus gave a
  series of woes on the Pharisees. In one He
  stated, But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe
  mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by
  justice and the love of God. Then He added,
  These you ought to have done, without leaving
  the others undone (Luke 1142). It is
  interesting that in Jesus litany of woes on the
  Pharisees He commended them for their tithing.
  Jesus never rejected tithing, but rather
  condemned its misuse.

14
Pauls Support of Tithing

• Paul does not mention tithing in his epistles.
  However, he addressed the issue of providing for
  those who preach the gospel in an obvious
  reference to the Old Testament practice as
  outlined by God in Numbers 1821. Paul stated,
  Do you not know that those who minister the holy
  things eat of the things of the temple, and those
  who serve at the altar partake of the offerings
  of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded
  that those who preach the gospel should live from
  the gospel (1 Corinthians 913,14). He also
  asks in Romans 1015, How shall they preach
  unless they are sent? There must be some
  mechanism for the support of the ministry.

15

• Paul was obviously referring to the Old
  Testament tithing system. He drew a parallel
  between priests and Levites and those who were
  proclaiming the gospel. The point he argued is
  that the gospel workers should be provided with
  their living in the same way as was done in the
  priestly system. What was particularly important
  was that this was described as a direct command
  to the church from the Lord Himself. Thus, Paul
  implicitly endorsed Christian tithing.

16
The First and the Last

• It is interesting to note that in the Bibles
  first mention of tithing we find Abram giving his
  tithe to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most
  High (Genesis 1418-20). And the last mention
  of tithing in the Bible in Hebrews chapter seven,
  mentions this experience and reviews the Hebrews
  tithe to the Levites, and then brings in Christ
  as A priest forever after the order of
  Melchizedek (Hebrews 56) as a better system.

17

• In this longest discussion of tithing in the New
  Testament (Hebrews 71-10), the author of Hebrews
  is analyzing the encounter between Abram and
  Melchizedek, and making certain significant
  theological points in his argument. The fact
  that Abram returned his tithe to Melchizedek is
  taken as clear evidence of the superiority of the
  priesthood of Melchizedek over the Aaronic one.
  This passage presupposes that tithing is a
  divinely-ordained practice. There is no
  rejection of tithing, but rather an implicit
  recognition of its value and significance.

18

• The New Testament shows a conformity with the
  Old Testament principle of returning to God a
  tenth of everything we earn and reminds us of its
  purpose and significance.

19
The Significance of Tithing

• Tithing and the tree of knowledge of good and
  evil
  CS 65

20

• A Test of Loyalty
• The tithing system is the equivalent to the
  last-day Christian of the
• Tree of Knowledge of
  Good and Evil
• for Adam and Eve
• in the Garden of Eden.
• CS 65

21

• There was nothing poisonous in the fruit itself,
  and the sin was not merely in yielding to
  appetite. (1) It was distrust of Gods goodness,
  (2) disbelief of His Word, (3) and rejection of
  His authority, that made our first parents
  transgressors, and that brought into the world a
  knowledge of evil.
• Ed 25

22

• When we are faithful with our tithe we show God
  that we
• trust His goodness,
• believe His word,
• and accept His authority.

(See CS 65 and Ed 25)
23
An Honest Tithe 3 Elements

• 1. Percent or Portion one tenth (10)
• Gen 1420 2822
• 2. Place to return it Gods storehouse
• Mal 310 Ps. 11614,18,19
• 3. Purpose the support of gospel workers
  Numbers 1821 1 Cor 914

24
The Problem The majority of professed
Christians part with their means with great
reluctance. Many of them do not give one
twentieth of their income to God, and many give
far less than that while there is a large class
who rob God of the little tithe, and others who
will give only the tithe. Testimonies for
the Church, vol. 4, p. 474
25
The Possibilities If all the tithes of our
people flowed into the treasury of the Lord as
they should, such blessings would be received
that gifts and offerings for sacred purposes
would be multiplied tenfold, and thus the channel
between God and man would be kept open.
Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 474
26

• The Plan of Action
• The followers of Christ should
• not wait for thrilling missionary appeals to
  arouse them to action. If spiritually awake, they
  would hear in the income of every week, whether
  much or little, the voice of God and of
  conscience with authority demanding the tithes
  and offerings due the Lord.
• 
  
• Testimonies for the Church,
• vol. 4, p. 474

27

• www.adventiststewardship.org
• -Pastors Stewardship newsletter
• -Power Point programs for teaching
• -Papers and booklets on Tithe and
  Offerings
• -Offertory Schedule and Readings
• -Other helpful material

28

• Early History

29
After leaving Egypt, and during the wilderness
wandering, there was no problem with getting to
the sanctuary for worship and bringing tithes and
offerings. The tribes were all camped around the
tabernacle in a specified order.
30
But things would be very different once they
occupied the Promised Land. Each tribe would
then be in its own designated territory and
have its own cities. Its
interesting that even though the Levites were
given 48 cities scattered throughout Canaan,
including the 6 cities of refuge, that God still
required the tithe to be brought to the central
storehouse.
31
Just before Moses died, he gathered all Israel
together and gave them three sermons or public
presentations. They are recorded for us in the
Bible as the book of
Deuteronomy. He stated that even though they
were to be settled and scattered all over Canaan,
three times a year they were to assemble at the
Lords house for praise, worship and the delivery
of their tithes and offerings.
32
But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the
land which the Lord your God giveth you to
inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all
your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in
safety
33

• Then there shall be a place which the Lord your
  God shall choose to cause his name to dwell
  there thither shall ye bring all that I command
  you your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices,
  your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand,
  and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the
  Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your
  God
• Deuteronomy 1210-12

34
Three times thou shalt keep a feast
unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast
of unleavened bread thou shalt eat unleavened
bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the
time appointed of the month Abib for in it thou
camest out from Egypt and none shall appear
before me empty
35

• And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy
  labours, which thou hast sown in the field and
  the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of
  the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours
  out of the field. Three times in the year all
  thy males shall appear before the Lord God.
• Exodus 2314-17

36
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy
seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in
the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of
thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of
thy flocks that thou mayest learn to fear the
Lord thy God always. Deut. 1422, 23
37
And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou
art not able to carry it or if the place be too
far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall
choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy
God hath blessed thee Then shalt thou turn it
into money, and bind up the money in thine hand,
and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose Deut. 1424, 25
38
Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within
any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth
thee But at the place which the Lord thy God
shall choose to place his name in, there thou
shalt sacrifice the passover at even
Deut. 165,6
39
And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto
the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill
offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give
unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord
thy God hath blessed thee
Deut. 1610
40
Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles
seven days Deut 1613
41
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear
before the Lord thy God in the place which he
shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread,
and in the feast
of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles and
they shall not appear before the Lord
empty Deut. 1616
42
Every man shall give as he is able, according to
the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath
given thee. Deut. 1617
43

• God Would Protect
• Their Land

44

• 3 Annual Worship Assemblies of Israel at
  the Sanctuary (Exodus 2314-16)
• SHILOH (temporarily) place of gatherings
• JERUSALEM center of nations worship tribes
  convened for solemn feasts

45

• Gods Protection
• For I will cast out the nations before thee, and
  enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire
  thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before
  the Lord thy God thrice in the year.
• Exodus 3424

46

• Central Storehouse Established before Entrance
  Into Canaan

47
The conquest of Jericho

• But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of
  brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord
  they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
  Joshua 619-24

48

• And they burnt the city with fire, and all that
  was therein only the silver, and the gold, and
  the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into
  the treasury of the house of the Lord.
  Joshua 624

49

• So they and their children had the oversight of
  the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the
  house of the tabernacle, by wards

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were
in their set office, and were over the chambers
and treasuries of the house of God. And they
lodged round about the house of God, because the
charge was upon them, and the opening thereof
every morning pertained to them. 1
Chron. 923-27
50

• Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of
  the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the
  treasuries thereof, and the pattern of all

that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the
house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round
about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and
of the treasuries of the dedicated things.
1 Chron. 2811,12
51
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at
the feast of the passover. And when he was
twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after
the custom of the feast. Luke 240-43
52
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and
beheld how the people cast money into the
treasury Mark 1241
53

• Anciently the Lord instructed His people to
  assemble three times a year for His worship. To
  these holy convocations the children of Israel
  came, bringing to the house of God their tithes,
  their sin offerings, and their offerings of
  gratitude.
• 6T 39

54

• The annual feasts were a time of
• fellowship, education, and worship.
• Psalm 1221,2 I was glad
• Psalm 11618,19 I will pay my vows
• Malachi 310 Bring allto the storehouse

55

• Psalm 1221-4
• 1.  I was glad when they said to me,
•     Let us go into the house of the Lord.
• 2.  Our feet have been standing
•      within your gates, O Jerusalem!
• 3.  Jerusalem is built as a city that is
  
• compact together,
• 4.  Where the tribes go up, the tribes of
• the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel,
•      to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 

56

• The Bottom Line 4 Important Facts

1. Israel gave at least one-fourth of their
income to God in the form of tithes, thank
offerings, support of the temple, and gifts to
the poor.
2. Most of these donations were personally
delivered by each family, in-kind or in cash
equivalents, to the central storehouse first at
Shiloh and then Jerusalem.
57

• The Bottom Line 4 Important Facts

3. This personal delivery system required being
away from home and work at least one month each
year.
4. The 25 giving and the one month away from
home were actually the basis for their prosperity
and blessing and they knew it!
58

• The contributions required of the Hebrews for
  religious and charitable purposes amounted to
  fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax
  upon the resources of the people might be
  expected to reduce them to poverty but, on the
  contrary, the faithful observance of these
  regulations was one of the conditions of their
  prosperity.
  PP 527

59

• Anciently God commanded his people to assemble
  three times a year, and from every city from Dan
  to Beersheba the people came to these annual
  feasts. The one at the commencement of the season
  was to entreat God's blessing upon their
  families, their lands, their flocks, and their
  herds. The one at the close of harvest was the
  crowning festal gathering, to bring their
  offerings to God. RH, July 10, 1879

60

• By thus assembling and bringing their tithes
  into the treasury, they ever acknowledged the
  Lord to be the giver of all their blessings. The
  children of Israel are our ensamples, that while
  we should imitate their faithfulness and virtues,
  we should shun those sins which brought the
  displeasure of God upon them.
• --RH, July 10, 1879

61

• Accordingly, in harmony with this Bible
  principle, the Seventh-day Adventist Church
  organization has designated the local conference
  as the storehouse to which the tithe should be
  returned and from which the gospel ministry would
  receive their salaries. In addition, the local
  conference gives support to the furtherance of
  the gospel in all the world.

62

• For the convenience of the church members and as
  part of their worship experience, the tithe is
  returned through the local church where
  membership is held and the local treasurer
  forwards all the tithe to the conference
  storehouse from which the religious workers are
  paid. This system, outlined by God, has enabled
  His church to have a world-wide and ever growing
  impact in the world.

63
It should be our highest aim in life to get
ready for heaven. 5 MR 255
64

• To the faithful servants he said, Well done,
  good and faithful servant you were faithful over
  a few things, I will make you ruler over many
  things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.
• The words, Well done are only spoken to those
  who manage their money Christianly!

65
My goal as a committed Christian is to take what
God has given me in time, talents, body temple,
and my treasure, and trade with it until He comes
with the perspective of bringing profit to His
kingdom.
66
www.adventsource.org 800-328-0525
67
(No Transcript)
68

• The contributions required of the Hebrews for
  religious and charitable purposes amounted to
  fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax
  upon the resources of the people might be
  expected to reduce them to poverty but, on the
  contrary, the faithful observance of these
  regulations was one of the conditions of their
  prosperity.
  PP 527