My husband and I are going through some very serious financial problems right now. We have had to get food from the church food bank and get our heat turned back on through the emergency utility fund. I'm not trying to get sympathy, just giving a little background for the situation.

For the past couple of months, we have been getting money that does not belong to us. For example: the bank accidentally deposited $300 of someone else's money into our account, the grocery store gave us back $1.00 too much, the bank credited $20.00 to our account for a $15.00 deposit, someone dropped a $10.00 bill on the floor in front of us at the store, etc., etc.

I know the enemy will try to tempt us (like he tempted Y'shua), but when it comes to money that does not belong to us...it is a no-brainer - it gets returned to the rightful owner...we absolutely will not keep it. We don't care if we are starving to death and living in our car.

What I am wondering is...has anyone else had this experience? It can't possibly be a test because it is so easy...it's not our money - we don't keep it. Could it be a trick? Maybe to make us "prideful" of being honest? I don't think that is it because we just give it back and go on without giving it a second thought. It's just that it is happening so much recently that it is making me really uneasy about the purpose for it occuring.

Anyone have any thoughts, or experience with this situation?

Love in Y'shua,
Angie

I have had things like this happen too maybe not as often but its happened. There were times when I had lived in with other people and they'd leave out 100$ bills on the table. I always wondered if it was on purpose to see if Icould be trusted. There was a story several years ago in the city newspaper of a women that received an accidental deposit in her account for a million dollars. She returned it--- Don't worry blessings around the corner.

How can you be certain it is not God's Will orchestrating these events in attempts to help you out in your difficulty?

How can you tell if its not GOD helping you out you ask? Ask if it was honestly earned money. If someone accidently transfered money from some other account for a billions dollars to your $2 bank account, its not from GOD, because that is money taken from someone else. If you get a hired at a new job and give you a raise...that is from GOD because its legitimately yours....in my experience, when God provides money, its the kind that comes in little by little, and its just enough. Get rich quick with no work is one the devil's favorite old cons.

When I was unemployed for several months, I dreamed that I was in this little back yard. I was a little girl. I was digging up the yard with my bare hands looking for a box that had a little bit of money I had saved in it. Then a man came up to me. He opened up His hand to me, and it was full of money. Then I realized, and He revealed through the Spirit that the man in my dreams was Jesus. He smiled and said to me, "See! I have given you back all the money you lost! I saved it for you."

It was less than a month after that dream that I just walked into a place and was hired 5 minutes later. I've been getting good raises every year now ever since. That period of struggle was a test from GOD for me. I needed that time to strengthen my faith that He will provide...to seek first the kingdom of GOD first...that's the first priority...doesn't matter if you are starving, make it your first priority and GOD will provide..it might be a while but HE is faithfull

God doesn't produce money. All financial success God grant's His followers is redistributed from others who had it first. I don't see a difference here.

How are you certain God isn't using the bank teller, or grocery store clerk, or some other random person, to His own end?

Thank you, laurel. I think you may be right. As usual, the Holy Spirit speaks through you.

I just don't understand why it is such a simple test. That's what has me puzzled and, frankly, a little suspicious.

Love you,
Your Sis,
Angie

Thank you, so much, 1Like Deborah and Flying Squirrel-

That's exactly how we were thinking. If it is not worked for (and earned), it is not ours!

Fidelio-
I was wondering about the possibility of your theory, but it just didn't seem right, it didn't feel right in prayer, and our heart just instantly would yield to the Holy Spirit to return it to where it came from.

Like I said, what makes me so suspicious is the fact that it is such a simple "test" that it isn't even a test. The lady at the bank thanked me for being honest, and I just told her that the devil keeps throwing money at us that is not ours, and there is no way we're going to keep it!

Maybe we will get an answer soon. If not, we trust Him in ALL!

Going against the grain of the replies, I say that when you are in need and you are being pressed and money comes from unexpected sources, God does turn finances over to you from strange sources and it is not out of order to keep them....now if I saw a fifty dollar bill fall out of the pocket of a man in front of me I would give it back...but if it is blowing in the wind and it meets my need, then thankyou Lord...I have heard of at least one case where someone had their entire mortgage paid off...the bank made a mistake and the people went to enquire and the bank said they could not find the files so consider it a done deal...

I am going to pray for you right now and ask the Lord to deliver you into a place of financial ease....

Father, in Jesus' name, 1 declare that my family does not rob God by withholding our tithes and offerings. We are tithers, faithfully bringing all our tithes, the whole tenth of our income, into our local church, that there may be food in Your house. Because we have given, You have promised that the windows of heaven are opened to us and the blessings being, poured out are so abundant that there is not room enough to receive them all. Thank you for rebuking the devourer for our sakes. He shall not destroy the fruit of our ground, or steal our source of income. (Mal 3:8-12)

The Lord is a refuge and a high tower for us, and a stronghold in times of trouble (high costs, destitution and desperation). Thank You Father, in Jesus' name, for laying up the wealth of the sinner to place into the hands of the just. (Ps 59:16;Prov 13:22)

Thank You that You supply all of our needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Thank. You Lord, that You are able and are making all grace, every favour and earthly blessing come to us in abundance, so that we always, under all circumstances, and whatever the need, are self sufficient, possessing enough to require no aid or support, and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation.(Phil 4:19;2 Cor 9:8)

We give and gifts are given to us, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will they pour into my family's bosom. Thank You Lord that You bring a hundred fold return to us in response to our giving. (Luke 6:38)

In Jesus' name, I rebuke the devourer from our finances, jobs, our home and our possessions. I command you Satan to take your hands off our money and property. We are not under the curse of poverty. We are redeemed from it! So, we resist you and must flee from our finances, in Jesus' name.." (Mal 3:11;James 4:7)

Whether you are kingdom givers or not I pray that your financial event take a turn for the GOOD.

And Satan might have absolutely nothing to do with it.

It could very easily be God making these things happen to test your honesty.

Don't be so quick to blame Satan for everything. (Not that I'm trying to stand up for him... it's just I think we, as Christians, often times give Satan much more credit than he deserves. Another example would be when people blame Satan for things like 9/11 or the Holocaust... when the truth is, sinful humans are perfectly capable of performing these kinds of events without Satan's help.)

fervent-
Yes, we are givers, and that is why we know that our problems are temporary. Thank you, so much, for your prayer and heartfelt concern! It is so nice to have family with us during this time.

Nathan-
You are absolutely right. That is our leaning. But, He knows our heart and, although, we have (and have had) circumstances for taking advantage of quick (though dishonest) financial fixes, we will not give in to the enemy's offers of an easy solution. We are our Father's children and try to live accordingly.

I've had it happen to me at a time where I did not whether I would eat the next day or not... I did not seek it; it seeked me. Everytime our meager funds were getting short, something would come up. They even cut the neighbour's electricity instead of us; when the guy came to us the next day to collect, I had the money for it! Many things: big telephone bill payments that go on the small fax bill, (they cut the phone line, but we had a [fax] line!!!) with plenty of CREDIT left for us to keep on calling. Many incidents like that that kept us afloat. Nothing to gloat for, but enough to get us through. We gave so much already and no one seemed to appreciate. We were persecuted, discriminated, slandered for what we were doing; yet we were only selling a product with BIG political ties... (that's a long story!)

That's how it is going for us! The money we need to get by until the next payday is provided in some way. Sometimes in very strange ways!

We always thank the Lord for that money, because we know (without a doubt) that it came from Him. The other money though...

Why is it dumped in our lap when we know it is not ours, not earned, and not a gift.

Every time it happens, I wish it was from an unknown, anonymous source, instead of knowing where it came from, who made the mistake, and who we need to give it back to!!

I would have given it back as well.

Bank errors have to come out of that tellers paycheck and it may cause them to even lose their job.

We grocery shop at the same store every single week, one of the products we purchase is bottle water by the case. Normally we purchase 3 cases of 24 bottles. When the cashier scans the case it sometimes hits one of the bottles and rings up .69 cents. Now, I know good and well I have a choice to make here. Do I tell the cashier so she/he can ring it up so I will pay the correct price of 6.99 OR do I let her ring up all 3 for .69 each? I could not live with that knowing good and well that I have just stolen most of those bottled waters.

The Lord will bless and when He blesses there is NO question about where the blessing came from and it has always been my experience that when the Lord blesses me I don't have to question it.

How do you know it's "the enemy's offer" and not happening because God has a reason for it?
For example...
Not 20 minutes ago I was at Target with my mom. They had two movies that I wanted to purchase. One cost $10 and the other cost $19.99 (it was a trilogy set... which was an amazing deal).
Anyways, I went to check out... I swiped my card... then once I got outside my brain started working. The cashier said the total was $21. Now... I'm no math expert... but 20 +10 does not = 21. So I looked at the receipt. I noticed that the $10 movie was scanned twice and the $19.99 movie wasn't scanned at all. I turned back around and went to the customer service desk and had the mistake corrected.

Now... was that Satan trying to tempt me? Or did God have that happen to me (knowing that I'd do the right thing and turn around and pay the extra $10) so I would be able to use the situation as an example in this post (as well as later in life in other situations)?


My guess...
So that when you do what's right and return the money someone might see that and say "There's something different about that person." Who knows... a simple act of doing what's right just may be what God uses to bring someone to Him.

Hmm? perhaps the "test" is not money at all...

perhaps the test is to realize the answers to the title of thread...

no. no.

The enemy is not stupid. (he was the ultimate cherub in wisdom)

And testing is not a trick. (we will be proved in all things)


Love you - woman at the well... Angie

Dani

Luther talked about conscience... he followed it. I think conscience is another Name for the Spirit living inside of us.

Do what you feel is right.

Dani is right, my dear sweet sister. The test is always bigger than we know.

I love you!

JH I see it a bit differently...I understand that what we "feel" is what the is directed in the flesh and what we "discern" is what is by the spirit.

My flesh wanted to get the good deal, but my spirit directed me differently.

Which do I listen to? I pray the spirit that directs me, the Holy Spirit...

It's kinda like that thing when you have an angel on one side and a devil on the other...Which do you listen to...

It is a right or wrong thing...Do ya don't ya do ya don't ya.......keep it pay for it keep it pay for it.....

A battle of wills, my will, the Lords will, my will, the Lords will...

It is simply easy and a test, trial for the Nepious, (babe in Christ..) OR is it used to show "THE INDIVIDUAL" where he/she is in her/his walk? Could it be a tweek, like fine tuning a station on the radio...

A person can never go wrong doing the "right" thing......

Thank you, so much, everyone for your prayers, similar experiences, and wisdom!


I do pray for that to be the case. When I returned the dollar bill to the cashier at the grocery store, she couldn't even talk. She just stood there staring at me with her mouth open, but nothing could come out! The other cashier is a Christian and wasn't a bit fuddled about it. In fact, she had to take the girl's hand and lead it to the cash drawer to put it in there (because the girl was still staring at me like I had grown three heads)!

Through all of your posts, the answer of it being a lesson (or example ) that the Lord wants the "returnee" to learn for His Glory came from the Holy Spirit! Thank you, everyone, for helping me to see that...

From now on, when we get money by mistake, we can just lift our hands and praise His Holy Name for using us. It will feel so cool now to be "working" for Him (even though it's not really work). We'll look at the recipient as someone who will (hopefully) soon be as madly in love with our Father as we are, and will know all the joy of Him!

I love you all,
Your sister, Angie

The enemy is not stupid at all. He knows that most people would succumb to what appears to be temptations that don't appear to be temptations and chalk it up to good luck. Not many people return what falls in their lap; that's why when it does happen it makes news.

Angie,
I believe that you are doing the right thing!
2 Cor. 15-17 says,
God does not need to use things that are wrong to supply our needs. Do what is right and God supplies!
j

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4adc1e71fd

Well I chose this thread to post this video in, because the title fits so well to the video...I am sorry that it is in Spanish, I could not locate an English version....BUT I think you will get the drift of what is taking place...

For those who do not know, this man claimed to be Jesus Christ and has a rather large following who truly believes he is Jesus Christ returned...But now take a look at what is taking place with this man...

It is very tempting, especially when you are in need. Yet, if you were to take it, don't you have that nagging feeling of did I do it right or not? Should I or shouldn't I?

Towards the last two years of my school, it was real tough going for us. At that time, my family's income was $1500 pm less tax withholding (about $1250pm). I had to pay tuition for myself and my wife, each more than $425 pm. Rent was $444 pm. On one semester, we brought our younger child to school every day, my wife feeding him in between classes. The older one went to a community college child development class ($250pm, it was on a sliding scale due to our financial needs). The next semester my younger one joined, total $350pm (due to a discount even!). We needed to get a new car because the old one was causing too much repairs and had no AC (summer heat was 105F), but we couldn't afford to fork out money to buy an old one, so we ended up leasing the cheapest we could find ($200pm). We gave our tithes. Gas + electrical bills came about $100. That two years ended up with a $20K debt from mom and sister-in-law (about $833 pm).

You do the math. There was absolutely not enough money, no matter how you slice it, even before adding adding in food and clothes or other expenses. $1.50 frozen pizzas or fajitas (last us 2-3 meals) were great. McDonald's was a luxury to us. We celebrated our birthdays at Fresh Choice (at that time, $5 per person, kids eat free).

Yet, we determined that we will not take what is not ours. One example: before those two years, we had cable TV for a short while (things were not that tight then). After that we canceled but somehow, there was a mistake in the final bill, where we were credited with too much. We called up three times to give them back the money, spread over a few months. They didn't want it. In the end, we gave the money to church. When we spot a mistake in the receipts when we buy groceries, we returned and gave it back. We sometimes get strange looks, but I felt happy. Priceless.

Result: we had enough in the final two years of our study. Sometimes down to less than $50 in our account. But it was always enough. We never lack. And we were able to still give our tithes. My wife and I graduated. We got hand-me-downs clothes for my kids that were even better than what we could buy. Through the generous WIC program (about $30pm) then, my kids were very healthy. Upon graduation I landed a job that gave me a sign-on bonus (those were the good days) and I was able to pay off the $20K debt within three months. We still live frugally today.

Until today, I still don't know how we could have enough, nor where the money came from. Our checkbook has always balanced! We always paid our credit cards in full. God never robs.

I have many more personal stories from those times.

What should I say? Just "All Glory be to God".

But I think another very important thing is what you pass on to your children. My sons also grow up very frugal, which is a great blessing. I don't have to contend with PS'es, Wii's, etc. They sometimes will pick dimes or quarters they see on the ground. My wife and I always told them no, or if it was already past, to put it into the offering bag on Sunday. Last week, my son was at a weekend school, and he being the curious guy opened the teacher's drawers to see what was inside. There was cash, about $40. Thank the Lord he did not take it. But another child did, and finally the other boy was caught and was reprimanded. My son did wrong by opening other people's things, but he did right by not taking what is not his. And for the latter, I thank the Lord.

Dear Sister Angie,

I think you did right. That feeling of doing the right thing is something that cannot be bought. The Lord will be proud of what you did. Sometimes the test is not so much right or wrong in the act, but that it could be something to do with where our heart is.

My own experience in God's faithfulness helped to propel me. It taught me to completely trust Him, especially that He fed the birds of the year and clothed the flowers of the fields.

We've seen so many other brothers and sisters who are much much more wealthy than we do, been working much longer than we had, yet they have no peace about their houses, their jobs, etc. They worry that if they lose their job, they will be in trouble. We never worried about that (not that that thought never cross our mind). My wife and I never had to quarrel about money. It is a blessing to us, something money cannot buy. While we carefully control our expenses, we do not overly worry about tomorrow.

As a result, we can give. We regularly send money to my mother (non-Christian in another country, has no social security or pension) and sister-in-law (non-Christian in another country, has cancer). We can give to missions (some overseas, no tax exemption). We'll be traveling this summer to visit my aging mother, and my wife calculated that we will have about $500 left in our bank accounts.

Our God is a faithful God. If you determine to follow Him, He will lead you and bless you, even though it may not be materially. There are many more important things money cannot buy.

May the Lord provide for you enough as you continue to follow Him.

I'm so happy for the blessings the Lord has bestowed on you and your family, yaqub! He is so good to His children - praise His Holy Name!

We still continue to get money that does not belong to us. Even a penny we found on the ground in front of the Salvation Army kettle went right into the kettle!

Tim has been missing a lot of work recently due to a medical condition, but our Father has been sustaining us. Lauren asked for specific needs (I love you dearly, sweet Lauren). Our needs are very simple: an inexpensive car so I can get a part-time job to help my husband pay our bills. Also, an inexpensive house or apartment to rent closer to where Tim works (right now, he drives 40 miles round trip a day) to cut down on gasoline expense and wear and tear on our 21-year-old car. That's it.

Everything we have is old, handed-down, used, and worn out. But, we look more at what our Father provides to meet our needs...clothing, food, water, oxygen, heat, shelter, and whatever we can share with anyone who has a need that we can provide in His Name, because of what He does for us.

We continue to trust Him, lean on Him, and know without a doubt that He is taking care of us and will continue to take care of us as long as we stay faithful to Him and believe Him for everything!

Dear Lord,

You are Jehovah Jireh, and we lift up our sister Angie and brother Tim to you, that You be especially close to them in this time of need. As they continue to honor You and submit themselves to You, may all their needs be met in Your presence. We lift their needs of an inexpensive, closer place to stay, a part-time job, and an inexpensive car to You, our Provider of all we need.

You are also Jehovah Rophe, and so we also lift up brother Tim to you, that he may find strength and healing in You. May your angels keep watch over him when he lives and works in the imperfect shell that he currently has, that Your promise of a resurrection body when Christ comes for His bride, may give him joy, peace and strength.

Lord, may You bless them mightily, exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imagine, that they speak of Your greatness and goodness in the presence of many people, so that many more may come into Your blessings.

According to Your perfect will and good timing, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

yaqub-
Thank you so much, my brother, for your loving prayer for us. We trust Him to answer it and continue to provide and lead us in His path. We also thank Him for giving us brothers (and sisters) like you to talk to, lean on, and take care of each other for His Name's sake. We love you.

laurel-
Our Father truly has His hand on you! You are a daughter of the King...that is very evident in the way He takes care of you. Love you, laurel!

Your Sister,
Angie