A Little-Known Lesson from Henry Ford

In 1940 Perry Hayden, a wheat miller from Tecumseh, MI, heard a sermon on tithing, or what I call the Power of Ten. He decided, according to Malachi 3:10, to put God to the test. He would plant a tiny wheat crop and give ten percent of the harvest to the local Quaker church. On a small plot four feet by eight feet, Perry planted a crop that he and his pastor Rev. Escolme, named “Dynamic Kernels.”

Henry Ford heard of this tithing experiment and also began to be involved. Year after year, what started as possibly the world’s smallest wheat field would miraculously grow an exponential harvest. Soon, Ford would furnish a reaper, thresher, and larger plots of land to continue their experiment. The men would, again, tithe the harvest to the local Quaker church. By the end of the fifth year, the two men were in shock as the harvest brought over 5,000 bushels of wheat!

When discovering this experiment while writing PoTENtial: The Secret Power of Ten, I was reminded of this passage from Paul’s second letter to the Church in Corinth:

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the One who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NLT).

During the research for PoTENtial, I found dozens of stories just like Hayden and Ford’s, stretching through decades. From the mass production of mason jars to hip-hop and reality tv stars, the Kingdom principle of tithing or activating the Power of Ten has been proven time and time again. Have you put God to the test and leveraged the Power of Ten in your finances?

If you can’t answer positively to that question, I encourage you to grab a copy of PoTENtial: The Secret Power of Ten by visiting KeithJohnson.tv/Potential.

Are you a pastor who could use an increase in offerings by 25-70%? This has become the norm for churches who have joined the movement. To learn more, get your FREE copy of PoTENtial at KeithJohnson.tv/PotentialGift