My Journey through Giving
25th November 2011
Mrs Melinda Green is a soldier of Rouse Hill Corps in the Greater West Division. She shared her testimony on 9th October 2011 during their Planned Giving Program.
I’m here in Australia because God has brought me and my family here.
I knew what poverty was all about and I know what it is to starve because I have been through it in India, but thanks be to God who has blessed us with all his gifts through Jesus Christ.
From the age of 17, I was aware of tithing to God; his portion which I gave was 10% of my income. When I got married my husband did not agree with tithing so I stopped. Whilst I was tithing I was doing very well but, after I stopped, poverty and lack crept in. During this period we went without meals.
I prayed to our Lord asking him why we were suffering and he said, “You have stopped giving to God.” God however, knew why I stopped giving so I didn’t have to explain to him. God then said, “Buy a can of Ovaltine for your mother-in-law each month – your husband will not refuse because she is his widowed mother.”
So I suggested this to him and he agreed. Each month I would give her a can of Ovaltine even though some times it was a bit difficult to do it. Not to long after this, our Lord, as he promises in Malachi 3:8-12 blessed us by opening the windows of heaven. I was earning 180 Rupees (Australia Dollars $3.54) per month; but after I starting to give to my mother-in-law this can of Ovaltine, God opened a door moving me into a higher position in a new company, my monthly income increasing to 500 Rupee ($9.84), glory to God!
A year later Doug and I along with our three children migrated to Australia. This really was a miracle because we had no savings to be able to pay for our airfares. It was not easy to get the OK to migrate to Australia; but with God all things are possible. The money was loaned to us by a relative and within a year we had paid it off.
We continued giving to my parents as well as Doug’s mother. This was our way of giving because my husband would not agree to tithing. However, since he has passed away, I am now able to give to God’s house, his portion of 10%.
At the beginning of this year Brian Kluth spoke to us about giving. He then spoke about God blessing him; but as he was speaking, our Lord prompted me to have a “Blessing Wallet.”
I like specials and most of the time I buy things when they are on special. Not anymore do I get to save on the specials because this is what God has asked me to do. Whatever amount I am saving by buying specials that amount is set aside in God’s “Blessing Wallet” to bless others.
For example: Cost of an item $50 on special for $30.
The $20 goes to the “Blessing Wallet.”
This has not been hard to do because if I say all that I have belongs to God, because he gave it to me in the first place, then as His steward, I must be obedient to God and give when he says “Give.”
The scriptures God has spoken to me about giving to God are Malachi 3:8-12:
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
Proverbs 3:9-11:
9 Honour the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
God is faithful and always keeps his promises. To our God be all the glory.
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