A Mother’s Influence

A mother’s influence left a momentous mark on the life of John Yates. Yates’ mother carefully recorded entries in her tithing book. “If the hens laid 15 eggs one day, she noted the fact in the evening, and then in a special column she wrote down, ‘one-and-a-half eggs.’ ” When John was only 14, he went to the bank and opened an account after he got his first job. He opened the account in the name of “John W. Yates and Company” and deposited 15 cents. The banker was curious and asked John, “Who’s the company?” John quickly replied, “That’s God, we’re in business together, and that’s his share of the week’s profits.”

Mothers and gathers have a tremendous effect on children. When I was growing up, I used to see my father put $5 in the offering plate every week. Now $5 then was a good bit of money, and it might have been a tithe, but when I got out on my own, I went back to putting $5 in the offering plate, like my father did. When I became a pastor, I began to think about giving and what is required of me. The $5 didn’t last very long when I began to think about what God required of me. I realized I couldn’t preach about tithing if I wasn’t a tither.

What has influenced your life? Was it your mother or father? I challenge you to sit down and decide if you can be “in business with God,” and if you do, “what is God’s part?” I challenge you to remember that all that you have and are is God’s! Take a look at what you give back to God today – so the church can be about the mission Jesus intends us to do. When we give according to the riches God has given us, the church won’t need to worry about money but can instead focus on service to others.

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon