Day 56: Give for Life

Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 10:16

Central Thought: Our financial resources can be used to bring life and hope to others

What are some ways people use wealth? The answers are as varied as the people, but R. G. LeTourneau, a 20th century Christian philanthropist, apparently used his wealth to help others.

LeTourneau, the son of a Vermont farmer, studied math and engineering from the International Correspondence Schools. At age 14, he began working at blue collar jobs, ultimately becoming enamored with the design of earthmoving equipment.

A prolific inventor, LeTourneau established manufacturing plants that produced 70 percent of the earthmoving equipment used in World War II. LeTourneau Institute, founded by LeTourneau in 1946 as an academy and trade school to address the needs of returning World War II veterans, is now known as LeTourneau University. Currently enrolling 4,000 students, it offers degrees in business, education, engineering, and aeronautics.

But LeTourneau also had another passion, that of spreading the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to building agricultural missionary stations in Liberia, he ‘gave 90 percent of his personal earnings—besides a portion of his company’s stock—to help young people prepare for Christian missionary work.” *

LeTourneau used the income God gave him to give life and hope to people around the world. Though we may not have millions of dollars in resources as LeTourneau did, we can allow God to direct the use of the resources we do have.

Devotional Prayer: Lord, help me use my income to spread the gospel and improve the lives of the people around me.

Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16

* The information for this devotional was taken from Current Biography 1958 which included the quote in paragraph 4 from Miami Herald, January 11, 1958. Current information on the LeTourneau University was taken from the LeTourneau University website.