True Stories of Tithers
The following are true stories of people who stepped up and took the Tithe Challenge. You can add you're own story to encourage other people.
Well, I don't really have much of an income. I have two children and don't recieve the court ordered child support from either father. So (you can probably imagine) money was a constant worry. The Shipwrecked series was an awesome message for me!! So, I started tithing. Sometimes I go weeks without income (long story behind this) so I decided that, each week that I did not recieve income, I would put away $5 to give on Sunday mornings. THAT'S RIGHT.. JUST $5. Just two weeks later, I recieved an unexpected gift of $200!! So the next week, I tithed $25. A teacher at OW approached me, handed me a card, and said "merry Christmas!" and walked away... inside, $100. I continued my tithing/offering. Three days ago I got a card from a few of the people who work at my dad's office, inside was $120!!!! And you know what, even if I didn't get those 3 unexpected gifts, I would still tithe. I recieve the gift of joy EVERY time I tithe.
Tithing has always been something we knew we should do, but not something we always practiced. In the summer of 2006 we found ourselves shipwrecked financially...we couldn't pay our bills and we were even selling anything we could spare on eBay just to make rent. At that point, we decided it was time to obey God and to tithe 10% of our income no matter what. It was only a matter of weeks before we started seeing a difference in our bank account...nothing had really changed as far as the money we were bringing in and yet we were able to find margin where there hadn't been any before. Since then we've gotten off the rocks of financial ruin, we were able to buy a house even, and have seen that even when we have to be careful with money and cut back on certain things...there is always enough for what we need and we are always provided for. God's faithfulness to us is unquestionable - we just regret that we didn't trust Him and obey him sooner. And it's a lesson we plan on teaching our children early on, so we can see God's blessing in their lives as well.
January 1st 2006 I was blessed with a new job. We then decided to make a commitment to God that no matter what; we would tithe on everything that came into our home. Birthday money, anything - 10% would be taken out. We also committed to giving towards Campus Development and volunteering at our campus. By March, my husband was able to start his own business. During 2006 we paid all of our bills, our previous bankruptcy was dismissed, and we were blessed beyond imagine to give a significant amount in tithes and offerings. It proved to us what God can do when you are faithful and obedient to him and trust that he is in turn faithful to provide. God answers prayer and he rewards you when you are faithful in giving back to him. We now have a great start for a down payment on a home, as we pray to own our own home again someday. We thank God for our Pastor and teaching us to be faithful and trusting with our tithe. The Lord truly blesses those who trust Him!
I am a full time student with a part-time job who is used to living paycheck to paycheck, so tithing on a regular basis was something I had never done. However, when the pastor preached on the subject, God stirred something in my heart, and I decided to give it a shot. What did I have to lose? God pretty much immediately showed me how amazing He was. Although it was difficult at first, now I love to give back to God. It's His money in the first place anyway, so what right do I have to keep it? As soon as I get paid, I write that check, and He just continues to bless me. I know that as long as I can trust Him with my finances, everything is going to be alright. :)
Why don't you take the 90 Day Challenge and see how much your life changes? Then you can return here and let everyone else know what God has done in your finances.