James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)
Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (ESV)
These passages remind me of the life and labors of George Müller (September 27, 1805 – March 10, 1898). Having given his life to the gospel ministry after his conversion, in 1825, Müller spent his life caring for those who were in need. He began to preach in 1826, took up mission work among the Jews in England in 1829, and took up the pastorate of the Ebenezer Chapel in 1830.During those formative years Müller learned to trust the Lord for material as well as spiritual provisions. It was upon this same principle that Müller took up caring for the poor children of England. In 1832 Müller moved to Bristol, and there, in 1834, he organized the Scriptural Knowledge Institution of Home and Abroad. Finally, in 1836, an orphanage was opened housing twenty-six orphan girls. This work continued to grow until five houses stood on this property and thousands of children were housed, cared for, and instructed in the Christian faith.
In his seventieth year, Müller and his wife began an evangelistic tour. These travels took him around the world sharing the gospel and encouraging Christians to live by faith. At the age of ninety-three, on March 10, 1898, George Müller fell asleep in Christ.
I would especially recommend to you Müller's Autobiography. The copy I own is an inexpensive reprint by Whitaker House. I bought it during my freshman year at college and read through it prayerfully. I believe that Müller possessed the spiritual gift of faith, to a degree that many of us do not know. I'm not sure that all Christians are expected to live according to the same manner and method as Müller did, but we all ought to learn to look to the hand of God as he did. Another man who followed a similar principle and saw the mighty hand of God upon his life was J. Hudson Taylor. Thank God for the testimonies of men who dared to trust God and not lean upon the arm of flesh!
More Biographical Information:
- at Wholesome Words
- at Wikipedia
- Lecture by John Piper
Works by and about Müller:
A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller, written by himself, together with Jehovah Magnified. Addresses by George Müller. Complete & Unabridged. 2 volumes. (Dust & Ashes Publications)- Read A Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller
- Read Jehovah Magnified: Addresses of George Muller
- Available at Project Gutenberg
- The Autobiography of George Müller (Whitaker House, 1984). 240 pages.
- George Muller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith by A. T. Pierson. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 2000). 375 pages. First published in 1899 with the title: George Müller of Bristol and his witness to a prayer hearing God. Online book
- George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles by Basil Miller. (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1972). 160 pages.
- George Müller and His Orphans by Nancy Garton. (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1963).
- George Mueller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge. (Seattle, WA: YWAM Publishing, 1999). 207 pages.
One of the things that impressed me in his autobiography is that he was willing to sacrifice to keep the work going during hard times. He didn't give up. He provided for the orphanage as best he could and kept trusting God to supply the growing need. After some lean years of testing, the Lord honored Muller's faith with abundant material provisions. And Muller was in the right spiritual shape to receive and use those material blessings.
ReplyDeleteIn reading up on his life, I learned that the Lord enabled him to build 5 houses to house children. I had missed or forgotten this fact. That is no small operation!
ReplyDeleteThe picture that remains in my mind is that of Muller praying and God providing for his request while he prayed. Here is just one example from November 28, 1838:
This is perhaps the most remarkable day as yet! When I was in prayer this morning, I firmly believed that the Lord would send help, although all seemed dark to natural appearances. At twelve o'clock I met as usual with the brothers and sisters for prayer. Only one shilling had com in, and all but twopence had already been spent. I found that we had everything necessary for the dinner in the three houses, but neither in the Infant's nor in the Boys' Orphan House was there enough bread for tea or money to buy milk. we united in prayer, leaving the situation in the hands of the Lord.
While we prayed, there was a knock at the door and one of the sisters went out. After the two brothers and I had prayed aloud, we continued for a while silently in prayer. I was lifting up my heart to the Lord, asking Him to make a way for our escape. I asked Him if there was any other thing which I could do with a good conscience, besides waiting on Him, so that we might have food for the children.
At last we rose from our knees. I said, "God will surely send help." The words had not quite passed over my lips when I saw a letter lying on the table, which had been brought while we were in prayer. It contained ten pounds for the orphans.
His testimony of faith was a great help to me as I trusted the Lord to provide for my school bill during my college years. It always seemed that at the right time I would get a slip in my mailbox indicating that a gift had been given to help with my bill. Within a year after I finished school the rest of my bill was generously paid off for me.
The Lord has continued to provide for us in many other matters. I just wish that I would trust Him more.
Another good book on Muller is Roger Steer, George Muller Delighted in God. We read this for Don Whitney's class on Biblical Spirituality/Personal Spiritual Disciplines and it was excellent.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this recommendation! I noticed this title in the bibliography section of the article on Muller in the Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals. I've not seen this biography yet. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteI see that Christian Focus Publications reprinted this in 2006. This new paperback edition is available at CBD here. You can also search for a good used copy, possibly a hardback issue, here.