Tithing – More than a truth!

This weeks lesson in the Old Testamen includes Elijah’s request that a widow who was destitute provide him the first cake from her last handful of meal. That had to be hard for the widow and certainly a sacrifice, but she did as he asked. The cruz of oil never did fail, as Elijah had promised. As I read this story, I was reminded of my own experience with gaining a testimony of paying tithing and paying it willingly and completely.

I was newly divorced and finally able to spend my paycheck the way I felt fit. When my boss handed me my check, it hit me like a brick that I could now pay my tithing. The was something my X had forbidden me to do because it was "our" money. Oh brother! I took a minute to go through my bills and the money I had just been handed. I was lacking the exact amount of money that I would need to pay my tithing. Do I wait until next paycheck? No, I knew that wouldn't be right. It had to be now. I quickly wrote out the check before I changed my mind. 

I know we shouldn't expect an immediate evidence to the promise the Lord has made as it pertains to tithing, but I was blown away at how quickly this one happened. My very next paycheck I was given a bonus that would be more than enough to continue paying tithing and still have rent money. The Lord is good on His promises. We are the weak ones.

In 1977, after my divorce, I was faced with the decision of paying tithing. I had been deprived of this blessing for the nine years I was married because it was "our" money. Oh, how foolish I was to not stand up for the things I believed were true! 

I sat down and carefully went through my responsibilities and the amount of paycheck I was given twice monthly. The amount I made was exactly minus that which it would take to pay a full tithe. What to do??? It really wasn't a difficult decision. I knew what I had to do and paid my tithing with the thought that I'd figure it out. I didn't necessarily "figure it out", but the Lord did. The very next week, I received noticed that I had been given a merit raise—something the company doesn't do often. I feel it was a direct result of paying my tithing.