Are You Ready for a Financial Test?

As a construction foreman in the oil industry, Lew Weeden knows that striking oil takes hard work and perseverance. He and his wife Jenene approach their finances the same way. 

When they married seven years ago, they committed to tithing based on a verse in Malachi.

“’Test Me.’ God's saying, ‘Test Me.’ Okay, that's probably the only place in the Bible God says, ‘Test Me’ and I said, ‘I want to try it. I’m ready to try it. I’d never done it before.’  And He says ‘Test Me on it.’ Let's do it. Let's try it and see,’” said Lew.
 
But at the time, Lew still had outstanding debts, and Jenene had $22,000 dollars in unpaid student loans from a mid-life career change. The couple scraped by and had to live in an RV.

Lew remembered, “Probably 90% of my check went out the door before I ever got a penny… so it was pretty bleak.”

Still they kept their promise and as they gave to their church, things started looking up.  First, Jenene landed an accounting job and they moved into an unfurnished apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“We were living on our camping chairs and we had a little bitty TV. We were really camping out,” said Lew.

Jenene added laughingly, “We rented a washer and dryer and, thank God, the apartment came with a refrigerator and stove. But we started giving. I started tracking it.”

Jenene kept careful records of their tithing so if they couldn’t give the full 10% one week, she would later make up the difference. “With every check I gave a little extra and a little extra till I caught up.”

In time, Lew got two raises and Jenene started making extra from her side business as a notary. Not only did they start paying down their debt, they gave above their tithe to ministries like CBN.

“It's a great ministry,” said Lew. “It's able to send the Gospel all over the world and that's what we want. We want it to go all over the world. We want every person on earth to have heard it.”
 
Within a year they had enough to buy a home – and still take care of their debt.

“And that's one of the things that I think tithing did for us and then all of a sudden this house popped up and we just moved right in the house, and it worked out really, really nice,” said Lew.

Jenene added, “And I was able to pay off my student loan, which was like $22,000 in two years, because my notary business took off.”        

Eventually Lew got another promotion that took them out of state. They also paid off every penny of their debt.

“All of a sudden you start seeing what God did and it's like, ‘Oh, that's cool. That's kind of cool right there,’” said Lew with a chuckle.
 
As they share their new home with friends and family, they encourage people to do as they did, and accept the challenge.

Jenene states so plainly, “So don't limit God.  Every time we're faithful to give, He's faithful.”

Lew added, “I love saying that, you know, it's the only place God’s telling you to test Him.  You ought to try it every chance you get.” 

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for Lew and Jenene. They made themselves available for God's love to flow through them to others, and they are reaping a blessing themselves as well. Join them in partnering with CBN. You will make a difference in lives around the world, through medical missions, food and clothing programs, humanitarian outreaches and so much—all in the name of Jesus. Please join today.