KFLCC Kingdom Economics

The Significance of the Giving Life

Alexander Kerr was converted to Christ at age fourteen under the ministry of D. L. Moody. Following his conversion, Kerr joined the Presbyterian Church. In 1902 Kerr read a book called, Judah’s Scepter and Joseph’s Birthright, a writing that revealed Jacob’s vow to give God the tithe. In the story, Jacob returned home twenty years later with so much wealth that he attempted to give a portion of it away to his brother Esau. On June 1, 1902 Kerr made a vow to God to set aside a percentage of his income for the work of God. He immediately began giving his tithe. At the time he held a mortgage on a home, owed numerous bills, and was burdened with many personal cares. After three months, blessings began to occur. That same year he started a company called the Kerr Jar Factory. The jars were manufactured in the city of San Francisco at his new factory, and God’s blessing was poured out upon the business. Then in 1906 an unexpected event occurred when the earthquake struck northern California in the San Francisco area. Kerr was out of state when the quake struck, and he received a wire stating that the entire city was devastated. Businessmen who were meeting with him at the time said, “Kerr, you are a ruined man.” Kerr replied, “I don’t believe it, or if I am, the Bible is not true. God will not go back on His promises.” Then Kerr received a second wire which read, “Your factory is in the heart of the fire. No doubt all is lost.” It took many days to search through the city to receive information about the damage done in the quake. Then Kerr received this wire: “Everything for a mile and a half on all sides of the factory burned; but your factory was miraculously saved.” The factory was a two story wooden building with huge tanks where glass was melted. There was also oil that was used for fuel so this would have been flammable. The fire raged on all sides, creeping up to the wooden fence surrounding the building and even scorching it. The flames leaped outside on all sides, but not a single jar was cracked. This miracle so impacted Kerr that in 1912, he began placing in each of his jars a small leaflet called, God’s Cure for Poverty , which encouraged people to tithe and give to the work of God. Today Ruth Kerr, a Baptist believer, runs the company out of Los Angeles and the organization still tithes today. M AKE F RIENDS OF M AMMON

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