The Treasure Principle

CBN.com For Michael Harris, leading expeditions to the infamous Titanic shipwreck 12,850 feet below the North Atlantic was his life -- until August 2000.

A violent storm had forced Mike and two others aboard the submersible vessel Miir 1 to return to the surface. When attempts to rescue them almost failed, Mike prayed to a God he didn't believe in.

"I told him how sorry I was for all things that I had done, for spending my 36 years chasing the Titanic. I couldn't believe this was how it was going to end, that this was how I was going to die," he recalls.

Then just a few days later, Mike lost his job. Even with years of experience, Mike had no job prospects.

"You can't look in a newspaper, 'Needed: expedition leader for historical artifacts to tour around the world,' Mike says. "So losing the job had an incredible effect on me and my family."

"We lost everything instantly," Mike's wife, Amy, explains. "There was no income coming in. In fact, his last paycheck was withdrawn from our checking account. We said, 'OK, we have X number of dollars left. What do we do now?' Panic set in, unrest, and fear."

With bills coming in and their future uncertain, Mike and Amy turned their lives and their finances over to God.

"For me it was a growing process from God to realize it was OK," Amy remembers. "He said, 'You've got to turn it over to Me. You're lost and floundering here. What are you going to do about it?' "

By now they had started watching The 700 Club. Even though they had no money coming in, they saw CBN as a ministry they wanted to support.

"I just like getting information on what's being done around the world, from putting in the water wells for people that haven't had fresh water or giving new books to children at the beginning of school year," says Amy. "There is just so much that I would love to do on my own, but in this partnership, I can do all of it."

For three years Mike went without a steady job. But believe it or not, they were not only able to pay their bills, but they were also able to increase their giving to CBN. How? Mike will tell you it's through God's grace and the law of reciprocity.

"From the day that I lost my job, there was constantly money coming in from something or somewhere," he says. "The Lord always provided us a way to do it. Every time we increased our giving, the Lord opened another opportunity and poured out opportunities on us financially."

And not just any opportunities.

Says Mike, "These opportunities were in the line of work that I do -- salvage operations, exhibitions, and antiquities. I was able to lead an expedition out to the Marshall Islands and search for Amelia Earhart."

Amy and Mike are now CBN founders. Mike is president of a company that salvages ancient Chinese artifacts.

"You can't outgive God," Mike explains. "The more you give to God, the more He pours out on you. And that allows me to give even more. I've just continued to watch it grow."

Mike and Amy are right. God does want His people to prosper! The Harris' acted in obedience to God's Word and were amazed by what He did in their lives. He will amaze you, too! Join with CBN now and help provide biblical answers and the gospel to thousands of people. You will also help feed and clothe children here and abroad, provide medical care to those who are hurting, and help keep The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Center phone lines operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please join today!