By Alex Ellis, Vice President
What happens when someone is challenged to give beyond anything they've ever given before? Is it possible that God could respond by doing something for them that blows their minds and inspires others?
Adam and Melissa are personal friends of mine. At the time this happened, they were a young married couple with two kids, and Melissa was pregnant with number three. Like many people, their budget at the time was pretty tight. They had both given money regularly most of their lives, but January 2005 was for them one of those key turning points in life, and they haven't been the same since.
Adam's job was commissions-based and he worked in an industry that is seasonal-- they were in the lowest part of their sales year. They kept sensing God leading them to give financially. They thought, what if the sales don't come? They wondered how they'd make it. Fear seemed to kick-in when this issue of giving came up. They'd seen God do some supernatural things for them in the past when they trusted. And when they remembered the past, it fed their faith for the future.
Then, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean hit just before Christmas, 2004. Day after day, images appeared on TV and online of people in tremendous need. Instead of asking how they could give, the question became, how could they NOT give? In early January, they gave to the Billy Graham association's relief efforts. The amount wouldn't seem large to some people, but it was to Adam and Melissa, especially while sales were down. But this wasn't all that they were supposed to give. What happened next will surprise you... it certainly surprised them and changed their lives.
Melissa told Adam, "I think God might want us to give to Him all the money that you earn above and beyond our normal expenses the first good month this year." This was an additional stretch to what they'd already done and a bigger one, but they both agreed to trust God and do it.
(Sometimes when I hear a great story, I wonder if the story was emelished at all. I can assure you that this one is not. God really did come through just as I'm telling it here.)
Their tax return helped them in February. And then March came, the normal month when sales increase. On March 3rd at the dinner table, Adam told Melissa after prayer that he thought God was about to do something special with their finances. The very next day, March 4th, Adam's sales took off like a rocket, about three weeks before the others in the sales team saw an increase from the new season. By the end of June, Adam had already sold as much as he did the whole 2004 calendar year! And he still had six months of production left! He set new records for himself and became the top sales rep in his region of about 45-50 other reps that year.
We can trust God.
I'm not saying that every story will have the same response from Heaven. But stories like this always challenge me to remember this verse:
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Did you catch the two conditions in this verse? If not, go back and see the two absolute basics for approaching God.
Sometimes God rewards us financially, sometimes not. Sometimes He rewards us instead with opportunities, relationships, joy, spiritual growth, and other important things in life. And sometimes, He saves the greatest reward for when we stand before Him in Heaven. But be sure of this-- He WILL reward.
And this promise from this verse is intended to give us confidence to seek after Him and His kingdom in this life while we can make a huge difference.
So I ask you this question: What is God leading you to do?
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If this has benefited you, I encourage you to share it with others. And if you want to share your thoughts with me on this, I'd enjoy reading them. I will only share your email online if you grant permission.
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. -Alex
COMMENTS
------ From RachaelHello there :) I just read your little article about Adam and Melissa. What a cool story! I don't know why I'm writing this to you really, but just felt liike maybe I should. There's really not a whole lot to say except that I really want to do what God wants me to do. I know He has a purpose for me and a way for me to serve Him right now, but I'm not sure what that purpose is... maybe you could say a little prayer for me (and my hubby too..he wants to fulfull his purpose also).
------ From Sandra
WOW! God is so awesome. Thank you for letting God lead you to post this story. We have been making ends meet financially but haven't been tithing like we should, out of fear. Fear that we won't be able to pay the bills or get things for the kids that they need! But fear is still fear! This story is inspiring and goes along with what I felt God calling me to on this past Sunday. During the service which had nothing to do with this at all I felt God telling me to (as Pastor Mark says often) "DO IT AFRAID" Please pray for us as we do this afraid. I do know that God honors our tithe, I have seen him do it time and time again when we do. And he was so faithful to us when we were faithfully giving to him in the past. We look back and go "how did we do it" but we didn't GOD did! Thank you for ministering to us even in a different state! God bless you and your family!