The Financial Step That Made the Difference

Jeanie is a widow who struggled to provide for her family for years, even when her late husband Allen was still alive.  Her financial challenges started early in her marriage when the couple planned to adopt one child, and took home three siblings instead.

She remembers, “My husband walks into the room, and all the kids made a beeline to him, threw themselves on him and said, ‘Dad.’”   

The Laszuks bought a bigger home to accommodate their new family.  The cost of raising three children was more than they’d expected.

Jeanie weeps, “There was definitely a financial pressure going on because work was intermittent. So, our wages always go up and down, up and down, and some months we didn’t make it.”

Allen was a part time salesperson and homeschooled the kids, while Jeanie worked as a court reporter and was responsible for most of the family’s bills.

She explains, “The mortgage and the needs of the kids, it was just way too much.  I couldn’t keep up with the amount of work that was needed.”

The Laszuk’s ultimately lost their home and filed for bankruptcy.

“Allen and I, we just, you feel like a failure. Like you feel like you’re a loser.” Jeanie confesses.

Meanwhile, Allen developed serious health problems and was eventually diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.

“Allen ended up dying in my arms,” Jeanie weeps.  She continues, “The way I got through this difficult time was going in the prayer closet, crying a lot, but I know that God has a special place for widows and orphans.”

Needing extra money during this time, Jeanie became a real estate agent on the side.  She also saw stories on the 700 Club about people who shared how giving 10% of their income actually helped them overcome their financial trouble and plan for the future.  Jeanie vowed that when she sold her first house, she’d give 10% to God.  

She explains, “It’s the only area in the Bible where God says test me in this. And I didn’t know where it was going to come from, but I just held onto the promises of the Bible.”

Soon Jeanie made that first sale.

She reports, “It was a sale that literally just fell out of the sky. My reaction was, ‘Oh my gosh, we made it.  This is really going to work!’ Tithed off the first sale, and it was the best and easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

After that, her sales increased and she gave 10% of every house she sold.  One place she started giving to was CBN.

“I feel like The 700 Club has no bounds, you know.  They’re there to help, and the monies go, they’re faithful stewards of it.  They help internationally, they help the basic needs,” she says.

Today Jeanie’s sales are four times what they used to be, so now she has a savings account.  Recently, she bought a house for herself and one son who still lives at home.  And soon she’s going to start investing in residential properties that will generate even more income for retirement.

“It has been the best years ever. No self-promotion, and then I get sales out of people I don’t even know- out of the blue,” Jeanie exclaims.  She concludes, “It’s amazing, and especially in the short amount of time. And all I can tie it into is the tithe. That has been the only difference. And I am just so grateful to God for what He has done for myself and my family.  It’s only the hand of God.”