It was a hot summer in the southern United States sixty years ago. My mother, father, and oldest sister sweltered in the sizzling sun as their money reserve continued to dwindle. Their situation grew increasingly serious.

Then they heard of profitable construction jobs in Columbus, Georgia. The entire clan, including many of my uncles, journeyed from West Florida and South Alabama to the new Mecca of Columbus. It seemed that a solution to their problems was in sight.

My mother and father were the only ardent Christians in the group. My father held a firm belief in prayer and in the practice of tithing. He gave the first 10% of any money he made to God.

While the others were employed in construction jobs, my father prayed for God's guidance. After praying, my father felt that he should apply for a lower paying job with the United States Post Office. Though he did not have the necessary educational qualifications, he continued to pray. He soon passed the civil service requirements necessary for permanent status.

As my father began his new job, he became the object of his family's ridicule. They laughed at his decision, and made jokes as he tithed from his meager salary to the church.

Then the Great Depression of 1929 struck America. The world of plenty plummeted into despair. Construction work was halted, and all my uncles lost their jobs. Only those with government positions remained secure.

One by one my uncles moved into our spacious home surrounded by two acres of garden. By then a boy of seven, I watched as my father became their sole means of survival. Their object of ridicule became their source of support. Through that childhood experience I came to understand that faithful tithing releases a flow of irreversible blessings from heaven.

TITHING: A BIBLICAL PRECEDENT

In the Old Testament tithing was a common practice established in the Mosaic law. Yet Abraham, our father of faith, tithed long before that law was first given.

In Abraham's time Chedorlaomer was King of Elam, an ancient country north of the Persian Gulf. For twelve years Chedorlaomer had been leader of a large coalition. In the thirteenth year many of Chedorlaomer's vassals, including the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, rebelled.

The book of Genesis records a swift battle between Chedorlaomer, his allies, and the rebellious vassals. Chedorlaomer won, and the aggressive king confiscated everything that was movable - people, animals, food, and valuables. Among his captives was Lot, a citizen of Sodom and a nephew of Abraham.

When Abraham heard that his nephew Lot had been taken captive, he immediately armed his more than 300 trained servants. They pursued the aggressors, and overcame them in a remarkable victory. All was recovered, and every person retrieved unharmed.

Abraham returned home, to the land God had given him, with this victory fresh in his mind. The King of Salem, thought to be from the ancient site of Jerusalem, then went out to greet Abraham. King Melchizedek was also priest of the most high God, blessing Abraham with the words, "The blessing of the supreme God, creator of heaven and earth, be upon you, Abraham" (Genesis 14:19, LB).

Abraham then gave Melchizedek a tithe, a tenth of all the spoils he had taken. This tithe had two purposes. It was first a gift of gratitude for what God had helped Abraham accomplish. It was secondly a seed faith offering of thanks to God for Abraham's promised blessings. This tithe seed gift of faith later bore abundant fruit, and Abraham became the father of many nations.

Jacob also tithed in faith. Before leaving his home to travel to his uncle, Jacob vowed: "If God will help and protect me on this journey, give me food and clothes, and bring me back safely to my father, then I will choose Jehovah as my God...and I will give back a tenth of everything God gives me" (Genesis 28:20-22, LB). After his years with uncle, Jacob returned to his homeland, stating: "When I left home I owned nothing except a walking stick. And now I have two armies" (Genesis 32:10, LB). Jacob knew that if he tithed God would bless him with irreversible prosperity.

Tithing became a priority practice during Old Testament times, and was associated with a provision for prosperity. One proverb asserts, "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns with wheat and barley, and your wine vats with the finest wines" (Proverbs 3:9-10, LB).

Tithing continued into the New Testament. When challenged by the Pharisees and religious leaders, Christ responded, "Yes, you should tithe, but you shouldn't leave more important things undone" (Matthew 23:23, LB). Stressing the validity and potential blessings of tithing, it is important that we not lose perspective.

TITHING: PROSPERITY FOR TODAY

Intertwined in Central Church's history is a firm belief in the blessings of faithful tithing. Following the Korean War many were barely able to eke out a simple existence. One of the first principles the Korean Christians grasped was the concept of tithing.

But they did not perceive tithing as an obligation of the law. They instead saw tithing s an opportunity to sow seeds of faith to God. As a result, thousands of members during Central Church's 22 year history have reversed the process of poverty. They are now blessed beyond measure with material and spiritual prosperity.

The Christian religion in Korea has gained the reputation of the religion of prosperity. It is partially because of this reputation that the Church is growing at a faster pace than the general population. It is estimated that half of South Korea will be Christian by the turn of the century.

This incredible belief in God's provision for irreversible prosperity prompted the formation of Central Church's Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship. One of the purposes of this fellowship is to minister to men who have lost their businesses. Many Christian businessmen belonging to this fellowship share their testimony with less fortunate businessmen, leading them to Jesus Christ, and teaching them the principle of seed faith giving.

One prominent businessman serves as a striking example of this principle. When he first came in contact with Central Church his business had recently bankrupted. That failure had plunged him into deep depression and a mental breakdown.

A businessman from our church told him how God blessed his business after he had started tithing. The dejected man committed his life to Christ, and was later filled with the Holy Spirit.

The former failing businessman was revived with new faith, and established a salt business. He faithfully tithed from his total income to the church at the start of each month. God richly blessed his new business, and the man soon became a millionaire.

Then tragedy struck. His warehouse, filled with salt, rested near the bank of a river. An unexpected flood washed the precious salt away.

Hearing of the man's plight, Dr. Cho went to visit him. He finally found the businessman sitting in the middle of his empty warehouse, humming to himself. Drawing closer with cautious questions, Dr. Cho realized that the man was in his right mind, praising God.

"God will take care of me," he asserted. "He prospered my business before, and he will prosper my business again."

In Just a few months he had fully recovered his losses. He once again became a millionaire, a shining example of God's principle of irreversible prosperity.

Unemployment has risen to a double digit figure and inflation mounts unabated. But it is not God's will that any be lost in worry or flounder in fear. Let us instead be generous and faithful in our tithing, possessors of God's irreversible prosperity.