A pastor told of a rural church that was constantly falling behind financially. The church indebtedness could not be paid; the pastor's salary was impossible to meet; the church building was badly in need of repair. The members were seriously considering dissolving the church.

Finally, one of the members, a miller, asked that all financial matters be turned over to him. This was gladly done. The miller was not a man of wealth, therefore little improvement was expected.

In due time, however, he began paying the pastor's salary promptly. The payments on the church indebtedness were met punctually. During the second year repairs were made, and articles were purchased for the church which the congregation had dreamed about, but never expected to realize.

At the close of the second year the congregation was teeming with new life and hope. Everyone was filled with curiosity to know how this member had done what the church had never before been able to do. In due time the miller called the congregation together, and told them that they themselves had made possible all that had been accomplished by him. But none of them had increased their pledges or their giving, so how could that be?

Then he gave this explanation: when these farmers brought their grain to him, he paid them full price less ten percent which he kept and deposited in the church treasury in their names. Their tithes had done it. And he added: "The best part about it is, that none of you ever missed the money."

Needless to say, this church learned a never-to-be-forgotten lesson in church financing. It was practical because it was God's method put into practice.