07/27/2024
My Laundry Money:
When I was living on campus in Upstate New York during my college days, I mostly did my laundry for the week after church service on Sundays. This way, I would have clean clothes for the rest of the week.
One fine Sunday morning, I went to church at Abide in the Vine Fellowship in Owego, New York, where I attended regular worship services. The service began with prayers, followed by a series of praise and worship songs and announcements. When it was time for tithes and offerings, I started feeling anxious and somewhat ashamed of not having money to put in the offering basket. As the ushers passed the offering basket around, I began to pretend as if I lost my offering. Truth be told, I knew within myself that the only money I had was left home for me to do laundry after church. So, I searched in my Bible, checked my shirt and trousers pockets, all acting like I was looking for my offering. Surprisingly, I found a $5 bill in a small pocket of my trousers—boys or men and even females will understand that there are some trousers with a mini pocket. Interestingly, it was the same money that I thought to have left home for laundry after church service.
Immediately, I began to struggle with myself and questioned if I should give this money as an offering or not. If I did, there would be no other money for me to do laundry for that week, and I would be forced to put on dirty clothes for the rest of the week. But I also felt that not giving an offering while I have the money on me was not a good idea. As this inner struggle was ongoing, the offering basket has already passed me. I looked around with guilt and prayed quietly, asking God to fulfill his promise, as the Bible states in Malachi 3:10. “Test Me in this way,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” So I rushed up to the usher and put the only money that I had (the $5) in the offering box before the collection ended. The service continued, and the pastor preached as planned.
At the end of the service, while people moved around and spoke to each other, a lady came up to me and pulled me by the side. She said something in effect: “Benjamin, I’ve seen you with us at church many Sundays, and I know you are an international student. Equally so, I know the struggles that international students go through at times, so I decided to give you this envelope for you to get some groceries for the week.” My face was lit up with a big smile, and I extended my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the lady. As I received the envelope and completed my conversation with her, I went to the bathroom, not because I wanted to use the bathroom for any other reason but to see privately what was in the envelope. I opened it and saw six $20 bills. I could not believe my eyes, so I recounted the money, and yes, for sure, it was the amount stated. I went home that day full of joy, knowing not only would I be able to do my laundry for that week, but I would also have extra money to do laundry the following weeks and for groceries.
Now, I’m fully aware of the many views out there about giving tithes and offerings in the church. But one thing I can say is I’m a living testimony of what it means to try God with your tithes and offerings. Your blessings in return may not be the same as mine depending on your needs, but God will surely bless you in line with his words at his own timing. Therefore, I say…
🇺🇸🙏🏽
Written by: Benjamin Kettor
Destiny Hands International Inc
www.destinyhands.org
