GIVING AND TITHING

1843 Robbing God

Billy Graham, in his sermon “Partners with God,” says: “One of the greatest sins in America today is the fact that we are robbing God of that which rightfully belongs to Him. When we don’t tithe, we shirk a just debt. Actually we are not giving when we give God one-tenth, for it belongs to Him already (Levt. 27:30). This is a debt we owe. Not until we have given a tenth do we actually begin making an offering to the Lord!”

1844 Tithe In Prison

Richard Wurmbrand of Tortured for Christ said that when in prison they tithed! “When we were given one slice of bread a week and dirty soup every day, we decided we would faithfully “tithe” even that. Every tenth week we took the slice of bread and gave it to the weaker brethren as our “tithe” to the Master.”

1845 Tithing Surprises

The Christian who tithes will be surprised:

(1) At the amount of money he has for the Lord’s work,

(2) At the deepening of his spiritual life in paying the tithe,

(3) At the ease in meeting his own obligation with the nine-tenths,

(4) At the ease in going from one-tenth to a larger percentage,

(5) At the preparation this gives to be a faithful and wise steward over the nine-tenths remaining,

(6) At himself for not adopting the plan sooner!

1846 Starting Poor

Someone says that tithing is only for the rich. But we have never heard of a rich man or woman commencing tithing, but can name scores who began to tithe when they were poor and became rich:

Mr. Crowell, founder of Quaker Oats Co.

Mr. Colgate, founder of Colgate Soaps, etc.

Mr. Proctor of Ivory soap fame

Mr. A. A. Hyde of Mentholatum

Mr. Henry Delaney of Resinol Ointment fame

Mr. Matthias Baldwin, founder of Baldwin Locomotive Industry.

1847 Quaker Oats

Henry P. Crowell, affectionately called “The autocrat of the Breakfast Table,” contracted tuberculosis when a boy and couldn’t go to school. After hearing a sermon by Dwight L. Moody, young Crowell prayed, “I can’t be a preacher, but I can be a good businessman. God, if You will let me make money, I will use it in Your service.”

Under the doctor’s advice Crowell worked outdoors for seven years and regained his health. He then bought the little run-down Quaker Mill at Ravanna, Ohio. Within ten years Quaker Oats was a household word to millions. Crowell also operated the huge Perfection Stove Company.

For over forty years Henry P. Crowell faithfully gave 60 to 70 percent of his income to God’s causes, having advanced from an initial 10%.

1848 Rockefeller’s Testimony

Yes, I tithe, and I would like to tell you how it all came about. I had to begin work as a small boy to help support my mother. My first wages amounted to $1.50 per week. The first week after I went to work, I took the $1.50 home to my mother and she held the money in her lap and explained to me that she would be happy if I would give a tenth of it to the Lord.

I did, and from that week until this day I have tithed every dollar God has entrusted to me. And I want to say, if I had not tithed the first dollar I made I would not have tithed the first million dollars I made. Tell your readers to train the children to tithe, and they will grow up to be faithful stewards of the Lord.

—John P. Rockefeller, Sr.

1849 The Colgate Story

A lad of 16 years named William left home to seek his fortune, all his possessions tied in a bundle carried in his hand. He met an old canal-boat captain. William told him his father was too poor to keep him and the only trade he knew was soap and candle making.

The old man then kneeled and prayed earnestly for the boy and advised: “Someone will soon be the leading soap-maker in New York. It can be you as well as someone else. Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an honest soap; give a full pound, and I’m certain you’ll be a prosperous and rich man.”

Into the city, he remembered the captain’s words, and though poor and lonesome, he united with a church. The first dollar earned, he gave 1/10 to God. Ten cents of every dollar were sacred to the Lord. Having regular employment, he soon became a partner and later sole owner of the business. He made an honest soap, gave a full pound and instructed his bookkeeper to open an account with the Lord of 1/10 of all income. The business grew, so he gave 2/10, 3/10, 4/10, 5/10 and finally he gave all his income.

This is the story of William Colgate, who has given millions to the Lord’s cause.

1850 LeTourneau’s Bitter Experience

R. G. LeTourneau, the Christian earth-moving machinery manufacturer who died in 1969, failed often in the earlier years of his career.

Ironically, though, he made $35,000 profit one year in the middle of the depression. Puffed up with pride, he withheld the payment of his $5,000 annual pledge to the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in order to reinvest it in the business and give the Lord an even greater share the following year when he anticipated a net profit of $100,000.

God was not mocked by LeTourneau’s withholding of his tithe from the storehouse. Within a year, his anticipated $100,000 profit was turned into a $100,000 loss, and brought the erring servant to his knees. It was a thoroughly chastened and repentant LeTourneau who by much courage and faith pledged not only $5,000 to his church for the year he skipped, but also the same amount for the following year—in the face of a $100,000 debt and no money for payroll. On top of that, his bookkeeper was ready to quit.

From that point on, LeTourneau’s fortune changed and within four years, he and his wife founded the LeTourneau Foundation comprised of 90 percent of the stocks of LeTourneau Corp., the earnings of which financed evangelical Christian work world-wide. At one time, this foundation was worth $40 million.

LeTourneau often said: “It is not how much money I give to God, but how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”

1851 LeTournean Doing Well In Both

R. G. LeTourneau told Forbes magazine, “I like to do two things. One is to design machines, turn on the power, and see them work. The other is to turn on the power of the Gospel and see it work in people’s lives.”

He did pretty well in the first department. At his death he held over 200 patents. One of his monster earth-moving machines, weighing 200,000 pounds, can cut a thirty-five-foot swath through a jungle, knocking down trees five feet in diameter and chewing them up.

He did well in the second department, too. Besides giving up to ninety percent of his income to Christian work, he would fly anywhere to speak for Jesus Christ. He is the only man to have been president of both the Christian Businessmen’s Committee International and the Gideons International.

1852 Laidlaw’s Graduated Scale

Robert A. Laidlaw, the New Zealand businessman who wrote the famous booklet “The Reason Why” (translated into 30 languages with over 16 million copies) started tithing his $3 weekly salary at age 18.

Two years later, he covenanted with God to give 10% of his salary—up to a predetermined amount. Above that amount and up to a larger amount—15%. Above this amount and up to a still larger amount—20%. All above a still larger amount—25%.

At the age of 25, Laidlaw decided to change the above graduated scale and give God 50% of all his earnings.

Forty-five years later, he testified: “In spiritual communion and in material things, God has blessed me 100-fold, and has graciously entrusted to me a stewardship far beyond my expectations when, as a lad of 18, I started to give God a definite portion of my wages.”

1853 Story Of Mentholatum

Early in his career, young Albert Hyde showed ability to make money. Though he did lose money several times, yet his hands had a magic touch. Once he pledged God his tithe. Then he became interested in a salve or remedy for colds from which came “Mentholatum.” He did not forget his pledge, and as God shoved in, he literally shoveled out—until his name became synonymous with Christian giving.

He gave multiplied millions to the YMCA. At one time, all his income from Mentholatum in Japan was supporting a Japanese missionary work there. When he died at 87, this poor businessman had given a million-and-a-half dollars to missions.

1854 Tam’s Partnership With God

Young Stanley Tam had failed in his silver reclamation business—even though he had tithed since its beginning! “Why God?” he prayed as he drove homeward with numb disappointment.

Then an inner voice from the Lord seemed to say, “You don’t need to fail; turn your business over to Me and let Me run it. Remember the promise. “My God shall supply. …” “ Finally, Tam replied: “Take it God and if you’ll make it succeed, I’ll honor you in every way I can.”

He returned home and the business grew. Many months later, after he had married, he wrestled with his conscience once more and told his wife, “I feel God would have us take a bigger step of faith than tithing and make Him a senior partner in the business—50% of the stock belong to Him.”

States Smelting and Refining Corp. of Lima, Ohio, was reorganized that way. Soon a new corporation, United States Plastic, was added to God’s partnership. Growth was so phenomenal that the IRS audited their books for 10 consecutive years. Dividends from God’s 51% were put into the Stanita Foundation which helps overseas missionaries mainly. As the business passed the multimillion dollar mark, God’s share was upped to 60% annually.

Then one day the ultimate happened. Stan and Juanita Tam turned over the ownership of the entire business to God. They became just salaried employees. Since then, a new plant quadrupled its original size sprung up and the business continued to prosper.

1855 “Innkeeper” Dependent On God

As a teenager, Wallace Johnson was fired by a sawmill operator. Today, as founder of Holiday Inns, he is a multimillionaire and called “the innkeeper of America.”

Johnson started his business empire in 1939 with a borrowed $250. Since then he has helped provide jobs for 110,000 people. He is known nationwide for his Christian activities and stewardship as a Baptist layman.

“I am totally dependent on God for help in everything I do,” he declares. “Otherwise, I honestly believe it would start to fall apart in months.”

1856 Senior Partner At Kraft

Years ago a young man began a small cheese business in Chicago. He failed. He was deeply in debt. “You didn’t take God into your business. You have not worked with Him,” said a Christian friend to him. Then the young man thought, “If God wants to run the cheese business, He can do it, and I’ll work for Him and with Him!” From that moment, God became the senior partner in his business. The business grew and prospered and became the largest cheese concern in the world! You ask the name of that young man? J. L. Kraft who became president of the Kraft Cheese Company!

—Walter B. Knight

1857 God Has First Claim On Keyes

Kenneth S. Keyes of Florida, leading Realtor of the South, started tithing in the middle of the depression when things blew up in his face. He gave to God not with the idea that it would help him make more money but because he believed God had first claim on his life.

As God prospered his real estate business, he organized seven different corporations which sell and lease real estate, provide mortgages and manage property. In 1938 Keyes decided that his corporations would tithe also. Today the tithed moneys of all Keyes companies go into a foundation which has a charter provision which stipulates that 56–2/3 percent of all funds must go to evangelical Christian causes.

Keyes has increased his personal giving from the tithe of the founding years up to 30 percent today—which he has maintained for many years. On top of that, whenever his net worth exceeds one million dollars after these deductions, he gives more to bring his net worth down to one million—a figure he never intends to exceed.

—Selected

1858 To Hyde, First Creditor Is God

A. A. Hyde, a millionaire manufacturer, said he began tithing when he was one hundred thousand dollars in debt. Many men have said they considered it dishonest to give God a tenth of their incomes while they were in debt. Mr. Hyde said he agreed with the thought until one day it flashed upon him that God was his first creditor. Then he began paying God first, and all the other creditors were eventually paid in full. If a man owes you money, it would be wise business policy on your part to encourage him to pay his debt to God first.

—Sunday School Times

1859 The M. P. Fund

When candy manufacturer John S. Huyler started out in business, he took Jacob’s pledge: “ … of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee” (Gen. 28:22). Going to the bank, he opened a special account which he initialed “M. P.” Into that fund he regularly entered a proportionate amount of his income. When anyone asked what the strange label meant, they were told that it stood for “My Partner.”

As he kept God uppermost in his mind in all his transactions, his industry grew at a phenomenal rate, and each week the “Lord’s treasury” received increasingly large sums. His gifts to worthy causes and private individuals amazed his business associates. These contributions were always accompanied with the request that the donor should not receive any thanks or glory for his actions. He asked each recipient to offer praise to God alone, for he said, “After all, the money isn’t mine; it’s the Lord’s!”

—Our Daily Bread

1860 Worth-Give-Leave Million Dollar

Mr. W. R. Spight, wholesale grocer of Decatur, Ala., passed away. Shortly after his departure the trusteeship of the Spight estate came into being. Representatives of the eight beneficiaries of the estate met, reviewed the activities of the trustees, and found that out of an original estate worth a million dollars, the beneficiaries have received $1,040,000 and there is still an approximate million’s worth left in the estate. A friend who knew Mr. Spight said that he gave $500 to the Lord every Sunday of the year, while he lived.

To be worth a million, and give a million, and leave a million to be given away is a record. Only eternity will reveal the vast amount of good accomplished by the million given, and the million now being given! Money simply cannot be put to a higher use than that of honoring the Lord.

1861 Douglas Travels Half-Way

W. L. Douglas, the shoe manufacturer, is nationally known. From his early, struggling years comes this story. He had been unemployed so long that he was down to his last dollar. Nevertheless, he put half of it—fifty cents—in the collection basket of his church. Next morning he heard of a job in a neighboring town. The railroad fare to that town was one dollar. To all appearances it would have been wiser if he had kept that fifty cents. However, with the half dollar remaining he bought a ticket and rode half-way to the desired place. He stepped from the train and began to walk to the town.

Before he had gone one block he heard of a factory right in that town where they were employing men. Within thirty minutes he had a job at a salary five dollars more a week than he would have received had he gone on to the other town.

—Arthur Tonne

1862 Gusher’ Tithe

Toddie Lee Wynne, oilman of Dallas, Texas, has turned over $2,000,000 to the Texas Presbyterian Foundation. The gift represented a tithe of an estimated $20,000,000 Wynne made when he sold his petroleum company interests. Members of the Wynne family have practiced tithing for many years.

1863 A Good Start For Charlie Page

Charlie Page was a young man, broke, penniless and jobless. One day he stopped on the street to listen to a Salvation Army service. When the tambourine was passed around for the collection, he told the girl who held it out before him that he would like to give something but had nothing himself, even for his food. She gave him a dollar, saying, “Take this: put ten cents in the offering, and hereafter give a tenth of all you get to God. Keep this up all your life, and you’ll never be penniless again.” He did so, got a job, and began giving his tenth regularly. By and by he became a millionaire, and gave much more than a tenth, building hospitals and helping in many ways to carry on the work of the Lord.

—A. Naismith

1864 Hardy’s Ministry Of Money-Making

The Honorable Alpheus Hardy made money and used it to support missionaries and educate ministers. The great Japanese, Dr. Joseph Hardy Neesima, was helped by him when he landed in Boston on one of Hardy’s ships. Neesima helped lay the foundations for Christianity in Japan.

Here is Hardy’s experience: “I wanted to go to college and become a minister. My health broke down and the truth dawned on me that I could not be a minister. “I cannot be God’s minister,” was the sentence that kept rolling in my mind.

“One morning, alone in my room, my distress was so great I threw myself flat on the floor. The voiceless cry of my soul was, “O God, I cannot be Thy minister.”

“Then it came to me that I could serve God in business with similar devotion, and to make money for God might be my special calling. The vision was so clear and joyous, I exclaimed aloud, “O God, I can be Thy minister! I will go back to Boston. I will make money for God, and that shall be my ministry. I am God’s man, and my ministry is to make and administer money for Him.””

1865 Story Of Welch Grape Juice

A young man accepted for the African missionary field reported at New York for “passage,” but found on further examination that his wife could not stand the climate. He was heartbroken, but he prayerfully returned to his home and determined to make all the money he could to be used in spreading the Kingdom of God over the world. His father, a dentist, had started to make, on the side, an unfermented wine for the communion service. The young man took the business over and developed it until it assumed vast proportions—his name was “Welch,” whose family still manufactures “grape juice.” He has given literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to the work of missions.

—The Presbyterian Advance