GOD'S ECONOMY

A Financial Mistake You Don't Want to Make

By Annika Young
The 700 Club

CBN.com - Jeribai Tascoe has always had a talent for design.

“I did coloring contests. I was constantly drawing. It was just something I really loved to do. So I would say it was more of a passion that ended up, ya know, developing a paycheck.”

With that passion, he started new creation studio when he was 18. He bought the best equipment that money… he didn’t have… could buy.

“I started immediately $6,000 in the hole, and on top of that I, you know, I bought a car at the time, so I was, you know, 30-grand, somewhere in the neighborhood that I was making payments on.”

For the first six months business was great.  But the work started drying up and he wasn’t prepared.

“I didn't account for any of the slow periods.  I just was like, "Hey, this is one big giant wave we're going to be able to – you know, ride this to infinity, baby."  And that wasn't the case. That thing came crashing down and I had no, no savings really in the business. I wasn’t taking a salary for myself so I had to start floating the business on credit cards.”

Jeribai was raised in a home where he was taught the importance of tithing. So when he started his business he promised he’d do the same. But as the debt piled up… it dropped low on his priority list.

“The budget was so tight I felt I didn't have enough money to tithe.  And that's where I made a big mistake, probably one of the greatest mistakes.”

With his dream looking out of reach, Jeribai started to work at his dad’s paralegal firm as a clerk. One day his dad sat him down and had a heart to heart.

“He came in, opened the door, look straight at me and said, "You really love, love design and doing art; don't you?"  And I was like, "Yeah, absolutely."  And he said this:  He said, "Well, if that's what you love to do, put it before the Lord, and  then go after it with everything you've got." So at this point I realized, Lord, this is yours, the design is yours.  If you want me to continue in this direction you have to provide jobs. Now is soley up to you. The Lord answered that prayer in a big way.”

Jeribai landed four jobs in less than a week. Right away, he started tithing faithfully again, and paying off his debt. 

“It was paycheck, 10% tithe. 90% I kept. Usually I would throw that on top of the debt. I did that for a period of time.  It took a couple years where I chopped 30 grand down to zero.”

Over the years, Jeribai’s reputation as a talented designer spread. He landed projects with Nike and Yamaha. He also made it to the finals on HGTV’s reality show Design Star. 

“I know I was giving my 10% faithfully to the Lord because that’s what I’m required to do. But one thing I realized was happening, I was more thankful. Everything that I had got, in terms of my paycheck, all of my increase I was so thankful for all of it.  And to give the Lord back 10 was like a pleasure.”

Today Jeribai and his wife, Michelle are raising two boys. They want to make sure they understand early, about the importance of tithing.

“We have a responsibility to tithe and steward. I mean, we tithe no matter what. That’s what we do. You can never out give God. “

Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for Jeribai. He made himself available for God's love to flow through her to others, and she is reaping a blessing himself as well. Join him 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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