Giving When You Have Nothing

Vicky has been through a lot in life.  A tough childhood, domestic violence and two divorces.  

“I was buying groceries on a credit card and I was juggling money around just trying to make ends meet,” she said.

 At one point, Vicky was nearly eighty thousand dollars in debt.

“I wasn’t able to manage it.  There was a lien on the house, they came after my house, they were demanding payment.  I didn’t have the money and so I was forced into bankruptcy, foreclosure, lost the house.”

Vicky managed to find some peace watching Christian television.  

She especially enjoyed the stories of people who found a way out of financial misery. She also started reading the Bible.

“It really got a hold of me,” Vicky said.   And so the word of Malachi says, "test me in this."  And so I said, "okay, God, I'm going to test you."  

Vicky started tithing in spite of how difficult it was.  At the time, she needed a car – hers was in bad shape and she thought she needed every penny.

Vicky said, “I was like, “God, I can’t tithe because I need a car.  And if I tithe that would be my car payment.”

It was difficult at first but Vicky gave every paycheck.  Then she noticed something she didn’t expect.

“I still have money to spare.  So this is totally God.  I can't wrap my mind around ‘how is this possible?’” said Vicky.

“And that’s what I feel the Lord impressed upon me was “because you were obedient.” It wasn’t my testing God, it was my being obedient to the tithing and to releasing what God, biblically, says to do in His word.”

While she was tithing, she was able to replace her old car.  And then after years of no advancement at work, she got three raises.

She said, “It's the favor and the blessing of God when you walk in His obedience.”  

Today, Vicky owns a home.  She loves her job and she’s enjoying life – best of all she doesn’t have to worry about money, all because she trusted God with her finances.

“I can’t wrap my mind around it.  I can’t.  I can’t explain it.  I can’t explain how is it I'm not lacking.  I'm not in need.  It is God."