”God Has a Bigger Shovel”

R. G. LeTourneau (1888–1969) was a prolific inventor in the earthmoving industry and one of the most amazing “rags to riches” stories in America. He began his career in obscurity in Stockton, California, where frustrations with his first job of moving dirt drove him to find a better, more efficient way. As the father of the modern earthmoving industry, he was responsible for nearly 300 inventions, including the bulldozer, scrapers of all sorts, dredgers, portable cranes, rollers, dump wagons, bridge spans, logging equipment, mobile sea platforms for oil exploration, the electric wheel, and many others. During World War II, he produced 70 percent of all the army’s earthmoving machinery.

LeTourneau felt that he was clearly called to be a “businessman for God,” and he spoke of God as the Chairman of his board. He said that the money came in faster than he could give it away. He established the LeTourneau Foundation to channel 90 percent of his personal multimillion-dollar salary to Christian endeavors, especially the training of Christian workers in practical skills that are needed on mission fields. LeTourneau was convinced that he could not out-give God. “I shovel it out,” he would say, “and God shovels it back, but God has a bigger shovel.”

He also said, “You will never know what you can accomplish until you say a great big yes to the Lord,” and he proved those words true. His business efforts—although incredibly successful—never deterred him from what he felt was his reason for existence: to glorify God and spread the Gospel message. He shared his faith with millions during his life and founded missionary efforts in Liberia and Peru. He and his wife also founded a college in Longview, Texas, which is a lasting spiritual legacy. LeTourneau University continues to hold to its spiritual foundations and has produced more than 10,000 alumni who are faithfully serving the Lord in all 50 states and 55 nations.

Many people see LeTourneau as one of the most influential people of the past hundred years. His attitude was always positive toward ultimate accomplishment, and he was known to say, “The only difference between can and can’t is a little extra effort.” His life’s verse was Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Taken from The American Patriot’s Bible