The Law of Reciprocity

Are You Desperate for Financial Change?

By Debbie White
The 700 Club

CBN.com - Gary and Evelyn Sherman of Poughkeepsie, New York love to explore the beauty of the Hudson River Valley. Financially things have never been better, but not long ago they were facing a mountain of debt.

“There’s a phrase that says, ‘robbing Peter pay Paul,’ I was robbing Peter, his first, second and third cousins,” says Gary.

The Shermans financial problems started after they bought a new home, all the furnishings, and a new car, all on credit.

“So now money was very tight and so now tithing, while I understood it, I just didn’t know how I could afford it,” says Gary.

“When you are living like that you are in bondage,” says Evelyn.

Soon the Shermans started using credit cards to pay for other expenses. Then, Gary had a job change and his salary dropped by $12,000.

“It was this panic of how are we every going to make this happen,” says Evelyn.

Evelyn took a job driving a school bus, while Gary juggled sometimes three jobs at a time.

“I felt very overwhelmed, sometimes resentful, exhausted,” says Evelyn.

Gary says he was weary too. For fourteen years he had pored over his finances looking for a way out. Now, they were  $50,000 dollars in debt.

“So, it’s just a hand to mouth kind of living,” says Gary.

“I finally got to the point where I expressed how desperate I was for us to have change,” says Evelyn.

“It got so bad that I am no longer current on all the bills and this is when I know I’m underwater now,” says Gary. “I’m pushing out to the deadline of when they are going to cut off different utilities. It kinda makes you feel like you are not providing.”

Then one night as Gary tackled the bills, “I just hear this voicend it’s the voice of God, I know it, and it says, ‘you are robbing me.’ I said, ‘I don’t have it. You can’t squeeze blood out of a rock, so where do you want it from?’ He says, ‘trust me.’ And I say, 'okay God, okay, okay, okay. I hear you loud and clear. All right, I will do it.'”

So the first check Gary wrote that day was a tithe to his church.

“And every week from that point on I did it, wrote that check out, it was painful,” says Gary.

The Shermans also sold their new car and bought a less expensive one. They put the money used to pay off a car loan, to pay down their other debts.

“I’m actually paying down the principle and watching different debts, one by one, go away,” says Gary.

During this time, Gary got several promotions and raises.

“It was really working,” says Gary. “This is what I call Godly financial engineering."

When you ask the Shermans how life is different now, their answer is the same.

“I could breathe, it’s like having my life back,” says Gary.

“Freedom is the word that comes to mind,” says Evelyn.

Today, the Sherman’s are still exploring the Hudson River Valley. Gary’s an executive in telecommunications with a six-figure salary. That’s double what he made in former years. He’s also the pastor of a small church.

“Not only can I meet the needs of my family, meet some needs in the church, but where I see a need, I can meet that need,” says Gary. “It’s amazing, it’s just amazing.”

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for Gary and Evelyn. Join them in partnering with CBN. You will make a difference in lives around the world, through medical missions, food and clothing programs, humanitarian outreaches and so much—all in the name of Jesus. Please join today.

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