Nuggets 15:   God's Nickel

"Boys, come sit down.  I want to talk to you," Dad said.  I was about seven and Gene three years behind me.  

"You are old enough to start receiving an allowance."  (Dad had to explain what an allowance was.)  "Mom and I will give each one of you twenty-five cents a week [translate $5 in today's money].  I will give it to you in change because I want each of you to save one nickel to contribute to the Lord.  The rest of the money you can save or spend as you like.  We are giving each of you a coin purse.  Put God's nickel in the purse and keep it safe.  You can take it to church on Sunday and give a contribution just like Mom and I do."

That sounded like an exciting, grown-up thing to do and we went for it.  You can see why we never had any trouble with giving.  Mom and Dad helped us understand early that everything we have is from God and it is just plain right to honor him.  God gave and we should be like him.  When I was a little older, Mom told me about the principle of tithing (giving a tenth) which is taught in the Bible.  She said God always blesses those who seriously honor him, and that she had never known any tither to go without the things they needed.

Why did her words stick with me when I have forgotten most of the sermons I ever heard?  All I know is that she made me want to live that way.

Psalm 24:1;  Genesis 14:18-20;  Leviticus 27:30,32;  Proverbs 3:9,10;  Luke 6:38;  Matthew 6:33;  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

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