Welcomne to Centenary United Methodist Church

The Parable of the Summer Tither

Now it came to pass when spring turned to summer that a certain church member said to his wife, "Lo, the hot days come and even now are at hand. My work lieth heavy upon me. Come, let us depart and go to the north country where the fish do bite and cool winds bring refreshment and pleasant scenes await."

"Aye, a good idea," said his wife, "but two, nay even three things we must do before we go." "That we ask our neighbor to water our flowers and our lawn, and also have our mail forwarded," said her husband, "but no other thing cometh to mind."

"The third thing is like unto the other two, but greater than all," she replied, "even this – that thou dig into thy purse and make good our church tithe, that the Lord’s work not be hindered while we are away."

"Verily, thou art noble and wise among women," her husband said. And he did pay their tithe for the summer, and he seemed to enjoy his vacation with peace of mind.

And the church treasurer rejoiced exceedingly, saying, "Blessed are those who remember the scriptural teaching, ‘Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him’ (I Corinthians 16:2). But more blessed is he who, on the first day of vacation, gives ahead of time for all the days he will miss so the Lord’s work will continue while he is gone."