Once upon a time, a man named Jim went to church. He had some extra money and decided to tithe it. Jim reached into his pocket and wanted to pull out a $1 bill. As the plate was approaching him, he quickly pulled out a bill and put it in the offering plate. Handing the plate to the man next to him, he noticed that he had put a $10 bill in the plate by accident! The man beside him quickly passed it down the row. Jim looked longingly at his rumpled $10 bill. So Jim decided to talk to the pastor, after church, and ask for the money back. He didn't want to give that much.

After many people had finished talking to the pastor, he walked up to him and said, "Pastor, I accidentally put a $10 bill in the offering plate. I meant to put a $1 bill in it. Can I get the money back?"

The pastor answered, "No, it's too late. The money has already been counted and we don't have proof that you put $10 in the offering plate."

Then the main said, "Oh no! I didn't want to give that much. Oh well, at least I'll get credit for $10 from God."

The wise pastor looked at him and said, "No, you'll get credit for $1. That's what you meant to put in the plate."

God gives you credit for what you want to do, not what you have to do.

This was a story told by Dr. Deimer at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I (Jason Gastrich) typed it into my laptop.