The Barrel of Meal Shall Not Waste

In the most recent general conference, Elder Jorge T. Becerra spoke of a time when he was struggling to pay his tithing. His business was not doing well, and he had fallen behind paying his tithing. He expressed his concern to a church leader who visited his branch, and he asked Elder Becerra, “Do you have anything of value?” That question led Elder Becerra to ponder what possessions he had: “The only thing I had of value was a car that I needed in my efforts to grow my business. However, I concluded that I should at least make an effort to sell my car, so I cleaned and polished it and placed an ad to sell it.” He related the miracle that happened: “A few days later, a man came to the house to see the car. He seemed interested; he drove it and came back to discuss the details. He gave me his business card, and I realized he represented a car dealership. I was nervous about what would surely happen next—the haggling back and forth over the price. He asked me, ‘How much do you want for the car?’ I told him I needed a precise amount. I had calculated what I needed to pay off the loan on the car and pay my tithing. He then said very calmly, ‘OK, I will come back in a few days with a check.’ He thanked me and left. I could not believe it. No arguing, no haggling, no negotiating.” From that he was able to pay off the car and use the remainder to pay his tithing. Shortly thereafter a friend called him randomly to offer his car, and he felt it was indeed a miracle. The Lord blessed him for his faith in paying his tithing when he didn’t even know how he would run his business without that car. The story highlights that the tithing is more about faith than it is about money.   

               In his talk, Elder Becerra shared this quote from President Hinckley: “I know that the people are in difficult circumstances. I know that many of them are unemployed. I know that many of them work for very meager wages. I know that they live in simple and inadequate little houses, the only thing they can afford. I believe they will not walk out of poverty unless they pay their tithing. … Now is the season in which to establish strength in the gospel, and that involves the payment of tithing. … It is obedience to the commandment of the Lord that really matters.” That is a bold statement from a prophet and goes contrary to what the world would say. Often there is a prevailing attitude that those in need should feel entitled to receive from others who have more. Surely those who have should give to help others in need, but the Lord also asks even those who have little to give tithing, and He promises to bless them. President Hinckley’s statement reminds me of the story of Elijah and the woman of Zarephath: “When he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” As she went, he also asked her for “a morsel of bread,” a request that might seem to us as selfish and impolite on his part. She responded that she had only one more meal to give before she and her son would die, and he requested it for himself: “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.” I love what happened next: “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days” (1 Kings 17:10-15). Because she had the faith to do what the prophet asked—even though it may have seemed far too demanding on his part—she was blessed with food to live through the famine. In the same manner, the Lord promises to bless His people, no matter how poor they are, when they will pay their tithing.

           About two decades ago, Elder Lynn G. Robbins told a story about President Hinckley in which he taught a similar principle. Elder Robbins related, “In October of 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated many parts of Central America. President Gordon B. Hinckley was very concerned for the victims of this disaster, many of whom lost everything—food, clothing, and household goods. He visited the Saints in the cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Managua, Nicaragua.” His message to them “in each city was similar—to sacrifice and be obedient to the law of tithing. But how can you ask someone so destitute to sacrifice? President Hinckley knew that the food and clothing shipments they received would help them survive the crisis, but his concern and love for them went far beyond that. As important as humanitarian aid is, he knew that the most important assistance comes from God, not from man. The prophet wanted to help them unlock the windows of heaven as promised by the Lord in the book of Malachi.” I love this promise from President Hinckley that Elder Robbins summarized, “President Hinckley taught them that if they would pay their tithing, they would always have food on their tables, they would always have clothing on their backs, and they would always have a roof over their heads.” Surely one could argue that the Church does not need the tithing of those who are poor and destitute to operate its functions, but those same poor and destitute need to give tithing so they can claim the blessings of heaven. Tithing is really just a way that we can physically show that we have faith in the Lord and are willing to put Him first in our lives. And when we do, we have His promise that the windows of heaven will be opened and blessings poured out upon us. Surely we need that far more than we need the money!