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. – Malachi 3:10
As I sat and pondered the situation before me that night, overwhelming despair filled my heart. My business had been slow, receivables were behind, and there was one more month left than there was money in my checking account. A small check had come in, but it did not come near to paying the bills that were due. My daughter’s school tuition was also due again, and I did not have a clue how I was going to pay it if I paid my tithes. From my youth I had been taught to pay my tithes first, and I had always tried to do this. I knew the Lord would bless me if I honored him first.
For some time I sat there considering how my faith seemed to have already been stretched to the limit. I prayed again asking the Lord to provide and see me through. Then I wrote the tithes check in simple faith. On Sunday I placed the check in the tithes box at church. Sunday night after church, my pastor came up to me and handed me an envelope. “Someone gave this to me and said to give it to you,” he said. When I got in the car to go home, I looked inside the envelope. Enclosed were ten twenty-dollar bills. My heart jumped! We had enough money to pay a couple of bills and buy a little food. “Thank You, Lord” welled up in my heart as I drove home.
The next day I paid the bills I could, but still did not have the money to pay my daughter’s school tuition. I went to the post office and mailed the bills. As I opened my post office box, I found an envelope from a close relative. Inside was a check in the exact amount of the tuition! What a faith booster this has been for our family over the years as we reiterated God’s provision during those trying times!
When we honor God with our tithes and offerings, He honors and blesses us. That does not mean that if we need money, we should run out and give an offering in the hope that God will pour out money upon us. God also looks on the heart! But when prompted by the Holy Spirit to give of our resources for the furtherance of His work, we need to do so, even if it means sacrifice.