The Man Who Gave 90 Percent.

I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back—but God has a bigger shovel. – R. G. LeTourneau

R. G. LeTourneau (1888 – 1969) was a Christian industrialist who dedicated his life to “being a businessman for God.” He was hugely successful, designing and developing his own line of earth-moving equipment.

LeTourneau was the maker of nearly 300 inventions, and had hundreds of patents in his lifetime. As he succeeded financially, he increased his giving to...

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 the point where he was giving 90% of his income to the Lord’s work.

Only recently, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan set a new example of philanthropy by pledging to give away 99 percent of their company shares ― valued at $45 billion ― during their lives to make a happy and healthy world.

It is not easy for anyone to relinquish almost all his or her fortune for the sake of charity. In this regard, the young couple's pledge is not only a nice surprise but also a paragon of virtue and respect for humanity.

It is all the more moving for Zuckerberg, 31, and Chan, 30, to make the announcement on the birth of their daughter, Max. In a letter to Max on his Facebook page, Zuckerberg said the aim of the pledge is "to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation."

A gentle challenge: Whatever percentage of your income you are currently giving, make a lifelong plan to bump that percentage with every opportunity.