This article is from Issue 5, “Called To Obedience”
By Corrie Ten Boom
“I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
(Psalm 81:10)
From the very beginning of my ministry I have felt it was wrong to ask for money, even to ask for travelling expenses. I did not want to be paid for ‘services rendered,’ I simply wanted to preach the Gospel and let The Lord provide for me. Some time back, one night when in the concentration camp with my sister Betsy, we were talking about the future when she said “Corrie, we should never worry about money. God is willing to supply our every need.”
However, this is a principle I have had to be reminded of many times!
One particular testing came when I felt I had received a direct command from The Lord to go to Russia. The price of our tickets and expenses would be 5000 guilders, however when I looked at my cheque book I found that we only had 3000 guilders in the bank.
“Lord,” I prayed, “what must I do? You have commanded me to go to Russia but I need 2000 more guilders.”
I thought that maybe God would let me write to a few wealthy friends to tell them my need, asking them to send the money for the plane tickets. Instead I heard a very clear directive from God: “Give away 2000 guiders.”
“Oh no Lord,” I said, as I sat at the table in my apartment in Baarn, Holland. “I said I needed someone to give ME that amount for us to go to Russia.”
God seldom listens to my arguments. He waited or me to get through my objections, and then He repeated His original command, this time with specifics. I was to give 2000 guilders to a certain mission group that had an immediate need. I could not understand how anyone’s need could be more immediate than my own, but foregoing the ‘wisdom of the wise’ I sat down and wrote a cheque to this mission group, depleting my bank account down to 1000 guilders.
Later that day I received some mail. Among the letters was one from the American publishing company that was to publish the book The Hiding Place. For some months I had been writing back and forth and only two weeks before had I finally signed the contract. As I opened the letter a cheque fluttered to the floor. It was an advance from the publisher, money which I did not think I would get until the manuscript was complete. I looked at the amount, it was more than I needed!
Yes, The Lord is not only my Shepherd; He is my treasurer. He is very wealthy. Sometimes He tries my faith, but when I am obedient, the provision always comes, just in time. Obedience is easy when you know you are being guided by a God Who never makes mistakes.
I would rather be a trusting child of a rich Father, than a beggar at the door of worldly men.
Taken from Life On The Altar Publications
Issue 5 Summer 2022
Called To Obedience
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 