Many years ago a lad of sixteen years left home to seek his fortune. All his worldly possessions were tied in a bundle, which he carried in his hand. As he trudged along he met an old neighbor, the captain of a canal boat, and the following conversation took place, which changed the whole current of the boy’s life:
“Well, William, where are you going?” “I don’t know,” he answered, “Father is too poor to keep me at home any longer and says I must now make a living for myself.” “There’s no trouble about that,” said the captain. “Be sure you start right, and you’ll get along finely.” William told his friend that the only trade he knew anything about was soap and candle making, at which he had helped his father while at home. “Well,” said the old man, “let me pray with you once more, and give you a little advice, and then I will let you go.”
They both knelt down upon the towpath; the dear old man prayed earnestly for William and then gave this advice: “Someone soon will be the leading soapmaker in New York. It can be you as well as anyone. I hope it may. Be a good man; give your heart to Christ; pay the Lord all that belongs to Him of every dollar you earn; make an honest soap; give a full pound, and I am certain that you will be a prosperous and rich man.”
When the boy arrived in the city, he found it hard to get work. Lonesome and far from home, he remembered his mother’s words and the last words of the canal boat captain. He was then led to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and united with the church. He remembered his promise to the old captain, and the first dollar he earned brought up the question of the Lord’s part. In the Bible he found that the Jews were commanded to give one tenth; so he said, “If the Lord will take one tenth, I will give that.”
Having regular employment, he soon became a partner. After a few years his partner died, and William became the sole owner of the business. He now resolved to keep his promise to the old captain; he made an honest soap, gave a full pound, and instructed his bookkeeper to open an account with the Lord, and carry one tenth of all his income to that account. He prospered; his business grew; his family was blessed; his soap sold, and he grew rich faster than he had ever hoped.
He then gave two tenths; prospered more than ever; then he gave three tenths; then four tenths; then five tenths. He educated his family; settled all his plans for life; and gave all his income to the Lord’s work. He prospered more than ever. This is the story of Colgate, who has given millions of dollars to the Lord’s cause, and left a worthy example of tithing which all would be wise to follow.
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Another version from Tan:
The story of soap-maker William Colgate:
His family was poor and at the age of 16 he left home to seek his fortune. The only thing he knew was how to make soap and candles. He met an old canal-boat captain who gave him this advice: “Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an honest soap, and I’m certain you’ll be a prosperous and rich man.”
William arrived in New York and got a job in a soap factory. The first dollar he earned, he gave 10% to God. Soon he became a partner. Later he became the owner. The business grew, so he gave a double tithe, 20%. Then a triple tithe, a four-fold one, half his income – finally he was giving all his income to the Lord. He was faithful to God, and his name is with us today on every tube of Colgate [*] toothpaste – Colgate-Palmolive.
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* Ironically, the original text said “Crest” but they are the main competitor of Colgate.
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Another version from “Sermon Fodder” by Ashley G. Emmer
(originally at HolwickID #7491)
Many years ago a lad of sixteen was obliged to leave home because his father was too poor to support him longer. So he trudged away with all his worldly possessions in a bundle dangling from his hand, resolving, as he journeyed, to set up in business as a soapmaker in New York.
When the country boy arrived in the big city, he found it hard to get work. Remembering the last words of his mother and also the godly advice given him by the captain of a canal boat, the youth dedicated his life to God, determining to return to his Maker an honest tithe of every dollar he earned.
So, when his first dollar came in, the young man sacredly dedicated ten cents of it to the Lord. This he continued to do. And the dollars rolled in! Soon this manufacturer became partner in a soap business; and when his partner died a few years later, he became sole owner of the concern.
The prosperous businessman now instructed his bookkeeper to open an account with the Lord and to credit to it one tenth of all his income. The business grew miraculously. The honest proprietor now dedicated two tenths of his earnings; and then three tenths, four tenths; and finally, five tenths. It seemed as if his sales increased in exact proportion to his generosity, so that soon his make of soap became a household word throughout the world.
The late William Colgate was this man whom God so signally prospered in return for his faithfulness to his Maker. While this story is not written with the object of advertising Colgate products, it is related because it illustrates so well the blessings that accompany the faithful payment of an honest tithe.
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Another version adapted by Rev. David Holwick from the Wikipedia.org article on “William Colgate”:
Have you ever heard of Colgate toothpaste?
There is an interesting story behind it. William Colgate was born in England but moved to New York City in the early 1800s. After coming to the city, he attended a large Presbyterian Church because it had a dynamic preacher.
Colgate wrote a letter to his father, who was a Baptist, saying he wanted to make a public profession of his faith in connection with the Presbyterian Church. He put down the chief points of his religious belief, adding “thus saith the Lord” for each one.
His father wrote back a very kind letter saying it was a wonderful idea. But his dad wanted his son to show him a “thus saith the Lord” in proof of sprinkling and baby baptism.
Colgate read his father’s letter to some of his Presbyterian friends and told them he had to go home and answer his father’s questions. One of the ladies commented, “Poor young man, he has no idea what he is getting into.” Colgate went home and ended up being baptized in the Baptist church in 1808 and soon was made a deacon.
Throughout his long and successful career, William Colgate was a tither. He gave not just one-tenth of the earnings of what he earned from soap products; but he gave 2-tenths, then 3-tenths, and finally 5-tenths (half) of all his income to God.
The seed was planted when he was 16 years old. He told the captain of a canal boat he was on that he was going to New York City to make soap. The man gave him this advice: “Someone will soon be the leading soap maker in New York. You can be that person. But you must never lose sight of the fact that the soap you make has been given to you by God. Honor Him by sharing what you earn. Begin by tithing all you receive.”