[18] Good News, vol. 18, no. 12, December 1927

HOW TO MAKE MONEY.

Several years I was in the real estate business in Medford, Oregon, I was not a member of any church at that time, but usually attended the Baptist church as my dear mother was a Baptist, and one of the most saintly women, I am sure, that ever lived on earth.

At that time the Baptist people had on a great campaign, teaching, preaching and persuading their church to give a tithe of one-tenth to the Lord. I heard some great sermons on the subject, and it seemed that he whom I heard was baptised with the power of the Holy Ghost; at least he must have been to reach such a hardened sinner as I. At any rate, I was very much wrought up about the matter. I called to mind the story of Jacob's vow—(Genesis 28: 20, 21, 22): And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my Father's house in peace; then shall the LORD by my God. And this stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee."

Well, I made a vow, saying that from that on, I would give a tenth of all the money I took in (little realising what it meant). In just a few days I made 400.00 dollars, and it came so easy that it seemed to be sent by a fairy. Right there came the battle of my life. I drew the money about 10 a.m., and the bank closed at three. I well remembered the vow, and the exact spot where I stood on the sidewalk when I vowed the vow; woke up and realised what 10 per cent, meant —it almost took my breath! Was I to separate myself of 40.00 dollars all at one time, for charity? Truly I was insane. I almost trembled. I never felt so queer in my life. Was it all a dream? Well, the Devil and I had it round and round all that day until nearly three o'clock, when I should deposit the money. At that moment I was in a great ponder, and thought of nothing else; but about ten minutes off three I decided that if I did not do as I had vowed, I would be lying to God, and stealing from God; and truly I was afraid to do that. So finally I separated out the tithing (40.00 dollars) and took the 360.00 dollars over and placed it to my credit. Well, I did not even know what to do with the tithing, so I timidly ventured up to the parsonage and gave it to Brother Hall, the preacher, and told him to use it for some good cause.

Well, in less than a week I made a thousand dollars, but it was easy to give the second time, so I took the hundred, together with other smaller amounts I had taken out on smaller deals, and started a bank account for the Lord. And it was just miraculous the way I prospered and made money.

When I got well-to-do, I began to get careless about my tithing, thinking I could stand alone. It was then that God touched that which I had, and I went the way of Job, in great calamity, and God struck me dead financially.

Again I renewed my vow in the South, and was greatly prospered; and again got into the Devil's snare, and God surely touched what I had. After several years I renewed my vow again, this time having a witness. A very dear friend of mine, in Dallas, Texas, also vowed a vow at the same time.

At this time, the most miraculous thing of my life happened.

I went to the Guarantee Bank & Trust Company to get a small check cashed. They declined; but the cashier told me to see one of the officials, and to ask him to O.K. it. I did as I was bade, but the officer told me to go to the collection window, and leave the check for collection. I presented the check as told, and the young man at the collection window told me that he had some money there for me. I frankly told him that I thought he was mistaken. He insisted, gave me a blank to sign, and counted me out 50.00 dollars.

Now the explanation of this matter was, that in some way the bank had made a mistake in my closing settlement with them; so God had this 50.00 dollars in waiting for me to teach me a lesson of faith when I got in a tight place.

Was all this blessing poured out from God? I am sure it was, I believe it with all my heart, and all my mind, and all my soul. It's just as plain to me as though I had met an angel face to face, and he had given me the money.—A. B. SALING.

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© Southern Cross College, 2005