Answers to Prayer and Providential Blessings

By Allen A. Benson

 

 

Answer 37 Blessings or Curses

 

 

 

God requires from all believers a faithful tithe and offering to support and maintain the ministry, to spread the gospel, and to test the willing obedience of His children. I was remiss in returning a tithe, not because I mistrusted the Lord but because I was selfish and craved the money that would thus be lost to me but a gain to His cause.

 

 

As I have so often pointed out in other answers to prayer, Christ is patient and tender of mercy, yet He would not let me rest in peace over this matter of the tithe.

 

 

With no credit to myself, in July 1999, I returned my first tithe in many months. In Malachi, Christ gives to the obedient Christian a wonderful promise or assurance of blessings to those who tithe while those who refuse to return His own to His cause are assured of difficult times, not as a punishment but as a consequence of His inability to bless them in their disobedience.

 

 

Soon after returning my first tithe in many months, we ran out of money. I discovered this problem when I attempted to use our check card at a grocery store believing there were sufficient funds to cover the purchase.

 

 

Consulting an ATM, I discovered our account to be woefully deficient in money. Checking with the bank, the next day, I discovered nearly $230.00 in unauthorized withdrawals. To protect the account against further withdrawals, I requested the bank to cancel our check card. Living in California at the time, I could not write checks, therefore, in effect, we were penniless.

 

 

One might suggest that had we not tithed, we would not be in this situation. Certainly our present problems could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be called a blessing or offer an occasion for praise, yet these assumptions are wrong. This was an accession for much praise!

 

 

The rent was due in three days and we were almost out of grocery money.

 

 

As many faith experiences as the Lord has given us, we often fail to consult Him when problems present themselves, frequently forgetting His past mercies to us, yet Christ is faithful, despite our failures, taking this occasion to bless us above all that we had a right to expect, which is NOTHING!

 

 

I called Beverily, my sister in Michigan, explaining to her our need. She agreed to loan us enough money to pay the rent, sending a postal money order via priority mail which arrived in time to pay the rent for the next week.

 

 

As described in the previous answer, the motel owner advanced us a total of $60.00 for groceries. She even gave us a six piece tray of fried chicken. While we prefer vegetarian food, this act of kindness was appreciated.

 

 

As a consequence of a shortfall in finances, the Lord revealed to us that some one was making unauthorized withdrawals from our checking account. Following prescribed procedures, I initiated the recovery process. It remains to be seen if we can recover these funds.

 

 

Netty, the motel owner, also expressed a willingness to wait for the rent, if this would assist us to recover our finances.

 

 

Now, I ask you, how many motel owners are there that would do these things for their guests without assurances, beyond my word, for repayment? Her actions speak of a love for the Lord. Generosity is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

The result of returning tithe-blessings!

 

 

Praise the Lord!

 

 

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