joanee20:
I will pay my tithe o...More money will come for me to complete the remaining 90%.. If God did it for me, what will hinder him from doing the same again(money). If the car gets stolen, won't I call on that same God?

Ohibenemma:
...
I didn't inform my wife about this decision until the close of the Sunday School.

"What? Why not this week?"

"Pastor asked if next week will be okay and I agreed," I lied. It didn't matter that we were in church. I was going to inform the pastor once service closed. "Maybe he has a function to attend to after today's service."

"It's alright," my wife said and I nodded in agreement.

During the short interval between the end of the Sunday School and commencement of the main service, I made a dash outside just to catch a glimpse of my majestic car, standing out in the midst of others, silvery and sparkling. My wife eyed me as I returned to sit beside her, but said nothing. I wasn't sure if she was aware of my mission.

I danced more than many others; shouted halleluyah more than many, but listened least attentively during the sermon as I couldn't shake off thoughts of my brandnew Toyota Camry. I had to do all I could to remain seated through it all. I was first to go out at the close of service and that was where EVERYTHING went wrong. It couldn't be! My silvery Toyota Camry was parked there, glistening under the rays of the sun, beautiful and majestic? Not at all! Its space was empty, void, conspicuous proof that it had once been there. My countenance alternated between smiles of forced bravado and frowns of mounting desperation. I went to the now empty parking spot and turned around several times, wishing the car would somehow come into view in the course of my exertions - efforts in futility. I didn't care if others thought me of an unsound mind, after all whose mind would remain sound after the sudden disappearance of his brandnew car, less than a week after its purchase?

"My car is gone!" I finally screamed, "my brandnew car is gone!"

Many eyes turned in my direction. Some, who were already moving their cars, stopped and came out. I didn't mind their stares of wonderment. My wife ran out too, flanked by our kids.

"What happened, dear?" Worry was written all over her face.

"Everything has happened! My car is gone, my brandnew car has been devoured..." It had come out unconsciously, but now that I said it, it made sense. The devourer! The devourer! I was agitated and was probably making wild motions when I felt strong hands upon me. "Leave me alone!" I roared, but the grips would not relent. "We're talking about my brandnew car here! Leave me alone!" Someone hinted to the fact that such acts were only carried out in connivance with one close to the victim, but how was that any concern of mine? The car was gone! My precious baby was gone.

They thought I was going mad. Maybe, if I was more relaxed, they would release the grip. I tried the meekest tone I could muster.

"I am okay, you don't need to do this, I am only worried."

They exchanged knowing glances and nodded. My wife nodded too, but just as I felt the grips being released, I felt an adrenaline upsurge again.

"We are talking about my devoured brandnew car here! Leave my arms alone!" No sooner than I had managed to jerk one arm free when the grips were tightened again. I could hear my kids crying now, I could see the tears running down my wife's face, but I couldn't come to terms with the loss of my Toyota Camry, silvery, beautiful and majestic. These reactions only pushed me to seek my freedom more violently, prompting more effort in checking me by my captors.

***************

I turned around to behold my wife's face. A smile broke forth amidst the lines of worry.

"He's awake, sir!" She announced to someone I was yet to know.

The pastor's face came into view. He smiled too.

"It is alright, madam; God has already secured the victory." He addressed my wife and patted my forehead. "Bro Uduak, you don't know how precious your life is, or you wouldn't allow your heart to be so tied to an earthly treasure which can rot away and be stolen."

Then, I remembered my car, my precious brandnew Toyota Camry, silvery, beautiful and majestic and shut my eyes. The many questions I had meant to ask about what was going on suddenly found answers. It was well, the car was gone. The Police would never find it. I never confessed to my wife how I had rejected her advice to pay a tenth of my windfall to God, no other soul ever got wind of it.

I was back to work the next day and acted like nothing ever went amiss. Now, I was indifferent to all the showy displays of my colleagues. Somehow, their ownership of cars meant nothing to me. Against my wishes, they later got wind of the acquisition and theft of my Toyota Camry. I was indifferent to their expressions of sympathy, too. The whole car drama felt like a dream, a vastly faded one.

I got another car a year after, and my wife, after yet another year. Today, it still baffles me how I could have been so attached to that first car.


THE END

Cc: Lalasticlala

everydayperson:


God does not work that way.. if he did Dangote would be in the fangs of the devourer.. so will Bill Gates.. tithe if you wish - it is not a must. all God requires from you is your Faith and your Righteousness through his Grace - IT IS FREE, Jesus ensured you never have to pay so much for the love of God.

Therefore be aware - God is not a selfish Igbo Tradesman (sorry no offense intended here) who demands performance from his children in order to render what he is obligated to do as a Father.

It is no surprise - we remain one of the worlds largest hypocritical Christian nation - Evidence is everywhere for all to see

Buy your car.. i am on my 5th and have no stickers running into 6-7 years of conventions on one broken-down car. God is not wicked

joanee20:


Are you their PA to know if they tithe or not? What do you even know about tithes..hmm... if you have your tithes pay them, but if you don't God won't punish you cos he sure understands his children..

Ohibenemma:
Let's discuss: what would you have done, in Mr Uduak's shoes?

joanee20:
WOW!!! that was one great piece...I hope people learn from it and follow the instructions written in the bible. NOTE: what more than one person tells you or says about you it the clear truth.... thumbs up dear, you too much..God bless

Flakkydagirl:
I really enjoyed this story,it was worth the read.
Hope to read something new very soon.
Do invite me.
Flakkydagirl.

kingphilip:
Wow such a nice masterpiece with spectacular lessons to learn

It's always good to learn from experiences of some other persons and not that of yours because yours might never give you a second chance to relive the experiences rather others who are wise will learn and avoid

This is a lesson to everyone of us that there's nothing we have that we were not given.. So appreciation is always necessary when we get something either a windfall which we never bargained for or a planned revenue which accrues to us.. Always remember to give GOD the BEST rather than the REST

ohibenemma always a hero at short pieces.. You did marvelously well on this.. Awaiting ur next move soonest

Lalasticlala, Ishilove, seun, mynd44 over to you guys

everydayperson:


God does not work that way.. if he did Dangote would be in the fangs of the devourer.. so will Bill Gates.. tithe if you wish - it is not a must. all God requires from you is your Faith and your Righteousness through his Grace - IT IS FREE, Jesus ensured you never have to pay so much for the love of God.

It is no surprise - we remain one of the worlds largest hypocritical Christian nation - Evidence is everywhere for all to see

Buy your car.. i am on my 5th and have no stickers running into 6-7 years of conventions on one broken-down car

harsysky:
Reading hasn't been much more fun than this. I couldn't even imagine how you would be shouting " My brandnew car!"
It's a reflex action, I guess. Nicely written and a great lesson to us all.

vivalavida:
Wow
What a story with lessons in it.
Sadly i am one of those who dont believe in tithing despite my mama's sermon to me and my siblings all the time about it. I doubt if any of them even tithes.
Maybe i will think about this tithing ish.

Nice read

ladyF:
Really interesting writeup, I can't believe I read it till the end considering how lazy I am when it comes to reading. Comprehensive insurance will have saved you a lot, you should have added it to your moral lesson.

vapid:
This is utterly BS.
You sound like a scam artist
Probably some small town pastor looking for ways to get people to pay tithes. Go get a job man.
God allowed thieves to steal your car because you didn't pay tithes, but he allowed atheists to be the leading richest and safest people in the world?
Anyway your message would thrive because of the number of single digit IQs in this country

Ohibenemma:
Wow! You must have felt very smart after typing this.

Well, I'm not even a pastor today, to start with, and it's a fictionally adapted 'true life experience'. Definitely not mine. I'm sure you understand that now.

The logic for some perceived Christian/Atheist prosperity discrepancies is simple. While some Christians are unrepentantly tight fisted, some atheists are selfless givers.

Ohibenemma:
Thanks for your commendation; you've always been a big support. I'm sure your call moved this to the Frontpage. Let's repeat it soon.

vapid:
Sorry. Still a scam artist. It's the idea that you're promoting that makes you a scam

kingphilip:
no p boss I'll be somewhere around waiting for you