GOD'S ECONOMY

A Financial Principle That Really Works 

By Ken Hulme
The 700 Club

CBN.com - It’s quiet here this time of the year on the sandy beaches of Topsail Island off the North Carolina coast. CBN partners Richard and Linda Baker especially enjoy walking here—where they have been living and doing business for years.

Linda says, “I love the peace that I feel here; just the breezes and the salty air.”
   
The Bakers run a successful company called Treasure Realty. The largest part of their business involves selling and renting vacation properties. Hard work, trust in God, and one other important principle guide their lives—and business. 

“Giving is essential to the success of Treasure Realty.” Linda explains, “Without giving we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Richard sees the correlation between giving and receiving. “When you tithe and you give, God becomes a partner with you in your labor. And he also says if you sow abundantly, you will reap abundantly. He said if you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly.”

The Bakers struggled a few years ago—when the bottom fell out of the real estate market. Richard shares the specifics, “The resort business was particularly fragile in those kinds of times. In 2008 my sales dropped 300% off of the high of 2005.” 

Linda was concerned. “It was scary because you don’t know what the future’s gonna hold. You don’t know are these employees still gonna be here?  Are we gonna shut down the sales office?”
 
Richard and Linda have always been givers—supporting their church and CBN. And for more than a decade they’ve given extra at the end of each year based on projected sales. But with revenues falling after such a hard year, and the prospect of things getting worse, Richard made what he believed was a prudent financial decision. 

Richard remembers, “When we got to the end of the year, we realized that it was going to be another hard year in front of us, no question. So we decided to cut back on our giving.”
  
But four months later—when Richard was reviewing his tax return, he realized that their income hadn’t dropped as expected! Richard heard from God, “The Lord just gently said, ‘Why did you hold back?’ And I got goose bumps and I called my wife and said ‘Honey, get in here. Bring the checkbook.’”   

Richard and Linda sat down and together wrote out checks to CBN and their church.
Just one week later at the rental office...  Linda was greeted by a member of the Treasure Realty team. “Isaac comes in and says, ‘I don’t know what’s going on but the phones are ringing off the hook. I don’t understand it.’”
  
She continues, “And we didn’t even think. We didn’t put the two together until about a week later when he comes in with numbers and shows us that the phone calls and the reservations have doubled from the same week the year before.”
 
During that meeting, Richard believes he heard the Lord’s speak to him again. “And the Lord whispered in my ear, literally, ‘That was Me.’”

Richard and Linda say they have not struggled again with their giving. In fact, they’ve increased it over the past few years--and the business is growing again. 

Richard reports, “Treasure Realty’s sales have been fabulous and rentals have been great and we’re on track to being as good as we were at the very top of the market.”

He goes on to say, “It’s a powerful force, that when you give, it comes back into you. When you give it, it releases Him to bless you.”

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for the Bakers. It can make a difference in your life too! 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.

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