Balancing Your Storehouse
Balancing Your Storehouse
By Benny Hinn
In Old Testament times, storehouses were set up to make sure that enough provisions, such as grain for food, would be available if a famine or some other disaster occurred. Joseph was one of the first to do this when he made the Egyptians save grain for seven years. When the seven years of famine came, plenty of food was available, indeed enough to feed members of Joseph's own family. (Gen. 41-48).
The point is that it's not just a good idea - it's God's idea - to set aside some of your earnings in savings. God is not saying you should hoard money, but it is prudent to have some extra resources set aside for your unexpected needs or the unexpected needs of others. How wonderful it is to hear about a need and when prompted by the Holy Spirit to have the resources to help meet the need - without going into debt!
The important issue is that we maintain a balance between having too little and too much. The apostle Paul alluded to this practice when he advised the Corinthians, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem." (1 Cor. 16: 1-3). Notice that they were to lay aside money on Sunday for their personal storehouse so that when Paul or his emissaries visited, the offering would be ready and waiting. Even if you're in debt, it's a good idea to budget a small amount for your personal storehouse.
When you are out of debt, how much should you try to save? I believe that the Word of God gives you latitude in this area. You should use your God-given common sense. If you are in an occupation that is seasonal and you may face long periods without work, then you need to save more than someone who has a very stable income. A good round number to start with is 10 percent, meaning you would tithe 10 percent to the Lord and then aim to save 10 percent and live on the other 80 percent. But part of this adventure will be letting the Holy Spirit guide you.
The important issue is that we maintain a balance between having too little and too much. By this I mean that we have enough in our storehouse to take care of emergencies and special opportunities to give, but not too much so that we begin to depend on our money as our source of security. But never forget that we trust in the Lord, not in our finances.
The parable that our blessed Master told of the man who trusted in his riches is as appropriate today as ever. In this passage we read,
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21).
©2008 Benny Hinn Ministries. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Excerpt from Biblical Road to Blessing by Benny Hinn ©1997. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN
By Benny Hinn
In Old Testament times, storehouses were set up to make sure that enough provisions, such as grain for food, would be available if a famine or some other disaster occurred. Joseph was one of the first to do this when he made the Egyptians save grain for seven years. When the seven years of famine came, plenty of food was available, indeed enough to feed members of Joseph's own family. (Gen. 41-48).
The point is that it's not just a good idea - it's God's idea - to set aside some of your earnings in savings. God is not saying you should hoard money, but it is prudent to have some extra resources set aside for your unexpected needs or the unexpected needs of others. How wonderful it is to hear about a need and when prompted by the Holy Spirit to have the resources to help meet the need - without going into debt!
The important issue is that we maintain a balance between having too little and too much. The apostle Paul alluded to this practice when he advised the Corinthians, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem." (1 Cor. 16: 1-3). Notice that they were to lay aside money on Sunday for their personal storehouse so that when Paul or his emissaries visited, the offering would be ready and waiting. Even if you're in debt, it's a good idea to budget a small amount for your personal storehouse.
When you are out of debt, how much should you try to save? I believe that the Word of God gives you latitude in this area. You should use your God-given common sense. If you are in an occupation that is seasonal and you may face long periods without work, then you need to save more than someone who has a very stable income. A good round number to start with is 10 percent, meaning you would tithe 10 percent to the Lord and then aim to save 10 percent and live on the other 80 percent. But part of this adventure will be letting the Holy Spirit guide you.
The important issue is that we maintain a balance between having too little and too much. By this I mean that we have enough in our storehouse to take care of emergencies and special opportunities to give, but not too much so that we begin to depend on our money as our source of security. But never forget that we trust in the Lord, not in our finances.
The parable that our blessed Master told of the man who trusted in his riches is as appropriate today as ever. In this passage we read,
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21).
©2008 Benny Hinn Ministries. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Excerpt from Biblical Road to Blessing by Benny Hinn ©1997. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN
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