My heart burned for the gospel in my early days as a Christian.  It still does.

I’ll not forget two occasions when the Lord visited me for a very specific purpose. The first was in 1986.

I was driving and worshipping the Lord, when the presence of God filled the car.  The experience was such that I had to pull off the side of the road it was so powerful.  I had just started my business about that time and was about a year into it.   I had determined that the purpose for my business was to further the kingdom of God.  I was given a vision during those few minutes, one so overwhelming I could not refrain from weeping.  What I saw was a picture of my company becoming a source for funding the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The aim of T. L. Hart, Inc. was to further God’s kingdom, and it would be fulfilled-at least in part-through charitable giving.

I am not aware of many who start businesses to earn money only to give it away.  Most do so to gain wealth for themselves, be their own boss and other self-centered reasons.  I admit I’ve had times where my motives were not pure; but my overarching goal has been to use corporate profits to support Christian ministry.

The second visit the Lord paid me was 17 years later.  I was driving again, and this time I was listening to Dr. Ed Cole’s teaching on Kings and Priests.  I had listened to this once before and, since I knew the material, paid little attention to it.  Dr. Cole’s basic message was that business exists to make money to give to ‘priests’ (i.e. pastors), who in turn would do the work of the ministry.  As I was listening, God’s presence again filled the car, and He reminded me of my experience in 1986.  This time there were words; “I will make you extremely rich” He said.

There is more to the story.  I had been mentored at the time for 18 years by a multimillionaire philanthropist.  Pulling into the parking lot of my business and weeping uncontrollably, the Holy Spirit said, “Why do you think I joined you to Jim Russell?”  I knew instantly what the answer was: I was to be just like him.

During the next eight years, I lost just about everything-about $1 million dollars in cash and assets.  That account is for another time.  God is faithful however; my company has seen miracle after miracle and we have recouped virtually all our losses.

There is a greater purpose for business than the freedom to do your own thing, to grow your bank or investment account, to build yourself a beautiful house to live in, or buy toys, while all the time there are people who need cash to do something you either are not called to do or can’t do.  Like going into all the world to preach the gospel.

Certainly, you can do that in your own little sphere of things-and you should.  Greater still, you can extend your influence to the ends of the earth through giving. You can give to charities.  You can support missionaries.  You can help fund gospel initiatives.  You can have the ministry of wealth.