George Müller’s Life Of Trust (Part 2)

Venturing Forward In Faith

  Arranged from the book, THE LIFE OF TRUST, by George Müller (1805-1898)

    A few weeks after George Müller married Miss Mary Groves, the two of them agreed that he would give up his salary at the chapel which he pastored. The salary was collected by pew rent, and he did not feel this was scriptural; he thought the seats ought to be free. Also, he did not know how cheerfully some gave. A box was put in the church in which people might put their offerings for him. Sometimes the offerings were small; sometimes those responsible for handling the money in the box were negligent in giving it to him. He and his bride sometimes found little in their purse. But God answered their earnest prayers by speaking to ones in the congregation to give food or money so that needs were met and their faith was encouraged. They were careful not to go into debt, choosing to do without if necessary. He desired to give forth the testimony of trusting in the living God alone.

    George Müller reported: “This way of living has often been the means of reviving the work of grace in my heart when I have been getting cold; and it also has been the means of bringing me back again to the Lord after I have been backsliding. It is not possible to live in sin and at the same time, by communion with God, to draw down from heaven everything one needs for the life that now is. Frequently, too, a fresh answer to prayer obtained in this way has been the means of quickening my soul and filling me with much joy.”

    At times the Müllers had to pray for their evening food while giving thanks for their noontime food. God sometimes supplied through gifts from the poor, small but precious gifts – perhaps a loaf of bread. But at the end of the first full year of living without a salary, they found they had received more than if they had collected a salary. Mr. Müller said, “I have not served a hard master, and that is what I delight to show.”

    After a little over two years at Teignmouth, he was led to move to Bristol. God blessed his ministry there and souls were saved. Many poor people came to their doors and they were able to help them with bread as God supplied. They also established a school for the children, read the Scriptures to them, and talked to them about the Lord.

Scriptural Knowledge Institution

    After several years of fruitful ministry in Bristol with his co-worker, Brother Craik, they felt led to establish a missionary institution to spread the Gospel at home and abroad. It was to be known as Scriptural Knowledge Institution. This involved the establishing of day schools and Sunday schools for children, and adult schools in which instructions were given upon scriptural principles, the circulation of Bibles and Christian tracts and the aiding of missionary efforts.

    Their principles for carrying on the institution were to be the same as for themselves personally: trusting wholly on the Lord for finances, not going into debt, and, as they declared, “not reckoning the success of the institution by the amount of money given, or the number of Bibles distributed, etc. – but by the Lord’s blessing upon the work (Zech. 4:6); and we expect this in the proportion in which He shall help us to wait upon Him in prayer.”

    After several months of operation they heard of a little orphan boy who had attended their day school and had been much concerned about his soul through the teachings received there, but the little boy was made very sad because he had to be taken from the school and put in a “poorhouse” some distance away. This deeply touched George Müller’s heart and he desired to do something to help destitute children such as that.

First Orphanage House

    In 1835, at the age of thirty, George Müller felt led to establish a home for orphans. Various considerations led him to this. He was eager to show to Christians that God wanted to prove Himself the living God – the same as He had been in former days to all who put their trust in Him. He saw fathers who worked fourteen to sixteen hours a day to support their families. Overwork not only broke them physically but prevented their having adequate time for prayer and Bible reading so that their spiritual life suffered. But the conscientious fathers scarcely earned enough to support their families as it was, so how could they work fewer hours? Mr. Müller wanted them to see that it was the Lord and not the work which supported them.

    Then there were those Christians deeply concerned by thoughts of old age, when they could work no longer. They feared they would have to go to the “poorhouse.” He wanted to show them, too, that God will not forsake those who put their trust in Him. He also saw Christian businessmen who compromised as did those in the world in order to succeed. He wanted them to trust in the living God and conduct their business uprightly and be successful because it was God who was blessing and honoring them. Too, there were those in professions not honoring to God, but they feared to leave them lest they remain unemployed. Mr. Müller wanted to demonstrate to them the unchangeable faithfulness of God and His willingness and ability to help all who called upon Him.

    He himself had taken God at His Word and proved His faithfulness, and he wanted to encourage others to do likewise. If they could observe him – a man with no possessions himself – establish and maintain an orphanage by prayer and faith – surely they would be likewise encouraged to trust the Lord. And might not the unconverted be convinced of the reality of the true and living God? Of course, it was on his heart, too, to help the orphan children, not only relieving their material needs but training them in the ways of God.

(Taken from Herald of His Coming Magazine, Dec 2008). And used by permission.)

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