GOD'S ECONOMY

Getting Fired Can Lead to a Better Future

By Tim Smith
The 700 Club

CBN.com - Phil Williams knows that in the pre-owned car business, reputation is everything, and honesty and integrity are essential. But there was a time he would say or do anything to make a sale.

“Money was really my god,” remembers Phil. “I wanted as much of it as I could get.”

Then in 2006, Phil and his wife Kristina gave their lives to Jesus Christ. They learned to trust God with their money and started tithing.

“It was just a natural thing for us,” says Phil. “It was something we felt convicted to do.”

They also felt convicted about the way Phil was doing business.

“It was a lot of guilt,” says Phil. “It just wasn’t right and I couldn’t deal with the fire. I would just rather walk with the Lord than walk that path I was walking.”

Phil decided to leave his job. But at the time, his sales were down and he never got the chance.

“My finance boss walked over and fired me before I could quit!”
While deciding what to do next, Phil took some odd jobs and stayed home with their daughter.

Kristina, who had been working at home, went back to nursing full time. Their income dropped significantly and they struggled. Still, they kept tithing.

“Every single month God would come through,” says Kristina. “It didn’t mathematically make sense at all. The amount that we needed for our bills and tithing, it wasn’t enough, but we knew God said to tithe, so we did it.”

Meanwhile, Phil prayed for direction.

“I asked Him, I said, ‘Lord, let me know. What do you want me to do? I’m ready.’ And in that still voice, He told me, ‘What do you want to do?’ ‘What do I want to do?’ I just wanted to provide for my family.”

In a few months, a former co-worker, who was also a Christian, asked Phil to go into business with him. Both agreed they would handle their business and money according to God’s principles.
“We knew that we were set up for success. He’s a tither of course. I’m tithing. We’re both in the business and we know what we’re doing. And we went from fifteen cars per month, and incrementally and incrementally grown to where right now we’re selling an average of 40 cars per month.”
 
Later, Phil and Kristina started giving to CBN.
 
“I love Operation Blessing,” says Kristina. “Every time there is a catastrophe, I know my money is going to something. It’s saving lives, people are learning about the Gospel, they’re getting their needs met.”

They recently expanded after acquiring another lot, and they’re also hiring new employees. They say these days it’s not about the money; it’s about trusting and obeying God.
 
“I just feel like it’s God’s money, and I just pray and ask God what should we do with it,” says Kristina.

“Through that valley I went through, what the Lord taught me, is to see finances through His eyes,” says Phil. “If you see your finances through His eyes, then you can’t go wrong.”

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for Phil and Kristina. They made themselves available for God's love to flow through them to others, and they are reaping a blessing themsleves as well. 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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