Tarsis Gomes, a 19-year-old student, received a monthly allowance of 50 Brazilian real (worth U.S.$50 at the time) from his father. After giving 5 real for tithe and 5 real for offering, he had 40 real left for university expenses.

One Sabbath, after giving tithe and offering in church, a friend named Nivaldo asked Tarsis for help buying new tires for his wheelchair. Tarsis didn’t hesitate. “Sure, I’ll give you 20 real,” he said.

Then a second friend, Jairo, also asked for help. He sang with an a cappella group called Communion that was touring churches in Brazil, and they needed money for lodging. “Sure, I’ll give you 20 real,” Tarsis said.

He forgot that he needed 23 real to cover university fees that month.

A few days later, Tarsis got in line at an ATM to withdraw money for his university fees. His sister, who also was a student, stood with him. It was then that he remembered that he had promised the 40 real that remained after tithe and offering to his two friends. He began to talk to God. “Why did You allow me to make those promises?” he said, bowing his head sadly. “How can I help people if I don’t study? What will Father say to me?’”

At that moment, he sensed God was saying, “Look up at the ATM.” He raised his eyes and saw money sticking out of the ATM’s cash dispenser slot. Then someone approached the ATM, withdrew money, but the banknote remained in the slot. He couldn’t believe it. He prayed, “Lord, if three people use the ATM and don’t see that money, then I’ll know that it’s for me.”

The next three people in line withdrew money, but the banknote remained.

With a prayer, Tarsis boldly cut in line and walked up to the ATM. Reaching out his hand, he pulled a 50-real banknote out of the slot. All eyes fell on him. His sister later said it looked like he pulled the money out of thin air. One moment there was no money in the slot, and the next it was in his hand.

Tarsis couldn’t believe it. He was shaking. The next second, his sister was beside him, asking, “Where did you find that money?”

“Right here,” he said. “It was just sticking out of the ATM.”

“No way,” she said. “If it had been there, I would have taken it myself.”

Tarsis, now a 42-year-old military police officer in Recife, Brazil, has been asked why God provided 50 real and not more. He replies, “Because I didn’t help more people. If I had offered to help more people, God would have given me more.” To him, the 50 real made perfect sense: 5 real for tithe, 5 real for offering, and 40 real for his friends. “We do not become poor when we help people,” he said. “God is the One who sustains us. Be faithful.”

Watch a YouTube video of Tarsis at: bit.ly/Tarsis-IS.