January 30, 2019
For as long as I can remember, my family always tithed. It was a basic financial principle that we followed. Growing up, I knew that my parents always set aside the tithe of their income, and it was the first bill that was paid in gratitude to the Lord.
Although our family tithed faithfully, the decision for me to tithe personally somehow never clicked with me. I simply assumed that the funds I earned from part-time work were too small to be worth tithing.
It was around this time that I happened to watch one of the Roadmap videos called “Giving to God.”1 After viewing it, I decided I would make the same commitment to tithe my income from that point on, no matter how little it was.
About a month after that decision, I got a call from a lady asking me to help her with one of her projects at her company. Once the project was completed and the payment was transferred, I tithed that amount.
After that, I started a new business venture. Although in the beginning, it started out slow, with time, it eventually took off. Customers responded well to the idea, sales rose dramatically, and soon companies outside the city began calling, asking to purchase the product.
I am so grateful for the Lord’s wonderful provision and blessings! It hasn’t been only financial blessings either: The Lord has protected my family from accidents, illnesses, and numerous other problems.
God blesses us when we give Him priority. That’s true in the realm of finances, and it’s equally true in every other area of our lives.
On the topic of giving, there is a new principle I’ve begun to implement in my life to help me develop a more generous attitude, by making a commitment to give a certain percent of my income each month to others in need.
There were two other conditions attached as well: 1) I would give anonymously so the receiver would be more likely to thank the Lord and not me, and 2) I would give toward something that would benefit the recipient’s future.
I was in a shop when the first opportunity presented itself. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a tool set on discount, and I thought about the struggling roadside mechanic who sometimes fixes our vehicles. Good quality tools are expensive and hard to find, so sometimes he has to come up with creative ways to get his job done. Knowing how beneficial this tool set would be for him, I bought it and had a friend deliver it to him.
My friend told me that when he presented him the gift, the man literally jumped in the air. He was so grateful, as the gift was just perfect for him.
Later on, I found another person in need who was not too far from home: a middle-aged mother who does cleaning jobs in our neighborhood while her children are in school. As Christmas was approaching, I wanted to give her some extra finances for her children’s needs … but I had to find a way to do it anonymously.
On this particular day, I noticed that she had left a worn grocery bag lying open in a public area while she was busy cleaning and washing laundry.
Seeing that she was occupied with her work, I took some of my money, went over to where the grocery bag was lying, stuffed the bills inside, and continued on my way.
Although I don’t know how the rest of her day went, I can imagine that by the time she finally arrived home and emptied her grocery bag, she discovered the funds inside. To see the reactions on her and her children’s faces would have been priceless!
On another occasion, I found a way to help a bright, yet underprivileged student. He had finished high school and wanted to study medicine in university in order to become a doctor. Although he had big aspirations, the field of medicine is a very competitive one with thousands of other students applying for the same subject. Even though he had good grades, because of his difficult living situation, he had no access to the internet or libraries to do research. University entrance exams were approaching, and I figured he could use some additional study materials to help him pass them.
After researching, I found a thick book on human anatomy and biology filled with pictures, descriptions, and diagrams on the subject. As he didn’t own a laptop or a phone, I got the book for him and asked his mom to pass it on to him. He would not have been able to afford a book like that, and the information it provided would give him the head start he needed for his studies and career. Recently, I heard that he got accepted into one of the best universities in the country.
These are just a few examples. I want to continue to be on the lookout to help others. If we each do our best to be mindful of the needs of those around us, we may be able to fill a very key part in someone else’s life and, as a result, have the peace and satisfaction of knowing that we had a hand in moving that person along the path that God has destined for them.
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