Colorado Couple Learns Benefit of Giving to God First

The Marolfs, of Montrose, Colo., had a plan: They would hit the road with their talents to boost their finances. Howard, who operates heavy construction equipment, was paid at a higher rate to work at out-of-town building sites. Sharon, who is a talented graphic artist, added to their finances by taking freelance design jobs along the way. The Marolfs did make more money away from home, but it just didnt seem to help.

"It seemed like we were just getting deeper and deeper in debt," says Howard.

"We got to the point where we were getting concerned," says Sharon. "We were making plenty of money, but the checks werent going to the end of the month to fulfill the need."

Howard, "We borrowed money on our house to live on so we could make ends meet."

The Marolfs were familiar with the concept of tithing to the Lord from their earnings.

"Whatever was left over wed give to the Lord," says Howard, "but it was getting to where there was nothing left over."

As Sharon explains, they treated tithing as optional.

"We thought more or less it was an Old Testament law, that it was more or less a choice in the New Testament," she says.

The Marolfs finances continued to plummet. Sharon says that one day when she was taking a walk, an answer to their money troubles came to her.

"I sort of feel like it was the Holy Spirit because it just suddenly came to me so clearly that we needed to tithe and we needed to do it first fruits and we needed to do it regularly," she says.

Sharon shared her conviction with Howard.

"Howard and I are of a mind about most things. He said, 'If you feel strongly about it and you feel like the Lord is talking to you about it, then I think thats what we had better do.' And so we did it."

"We cant believe it ourselves the way that Hes brought us back from where we were before just because we started giving," Howard reflects.

"Were not having financial problems now, and we are comfortable," says Sharon. "Were not stretched and were not worried and weve just given up all of that."

"We give to our church because they are the ones who feed us, but we like what The 700 Club is doing globally," Howard states.

"The Lord said, 'Preach the gospel to the whole world and then the end will come,' and, boy, it seems to me like CBN is running with that ball," says Sharon. "They are reaching the world. Im really impressed, and I wanted us to be a part of that."

The Marolfs say that they are amazed at how God has turned around their once desperate finances.

"Now were living on 80 percent, and were giving still over and above the tithe," Sharon says. "Pat Robertson talks about that 'Law of Reciprocity.' I can really see that reciprocation is a mutually advantageous giving back and forth. I really think that this is what has happened to us."

"We found out that the more you give God, the more Hell give you," says Howard.

Sharon concludes, "I just seems like everything is going further. I dont know how Hes doing it, but Hes really doing it!"

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