One
of my favorite sections of the biography is when A.T. Pierson presents a list of 24
important steps, steps that he believes were essential in the spiritual
formation of George Müller. Here are steps 13-18:
13. His companions in
service.
Two most efficient co-workers were divinely provided: first his brother Craik so like-minded with himself, and secondly, his wife, so peculiarly God’s gift, both of them proving great aids in working and in bearing burdens of responsibility.
History doesn’t speak much of Mr. Craik, but to be as
like-minded as George Müller
says volumes about this man.
In a similar
way, history speaks little about George Müller’s wife. This amazing woman entered
into marriage agreeing to a life of voluntary poverty, desiring to “help” her
husband live out God’s plan for him. Here are Müller’s words about her at her
funeral:
“She was God’s own gift, exquisitely suited to me even in natural temperament. Thousands of times I said to her, ‘My darling, God Himself singled you out for me, as the most suitable wife I could possibly wish to have had’.
14. His view of the
Lord’s coming.
He thanked God for unveiling to him that great truth, considered by him as second to no other in its influence upon his piety and usefulness; and in the light of it he saw clearly the purpose of this gospel age, to be not to convert the world but to call out from it a believing church as Christ’s bride.
The eschatological focus of Müller helps explain his commitment to voluntary poverty
and his unusual walk with God. Being convinced that the world is fleeting, he
simply was committed to the proclamation of the gospel and living under the
Lordship of Christ. For Müller, why spend time hoarding money when you can’t
take it to Heaven (Matt. 16:26)? Furthermore, money and resources are the Lord’s,
not yours (Psa. 24:1). As the popular maxim goes, “The issue is not how much
you give to God, instead, the issue it is how much you keep for yourselves”.
15. His waiting on God
for a message.
For every new occasion he asked of Him a word in season; then a mode of treatment, and unction in delivery; and, in godly simplicity and sincerity, with the demonstration of the Spirit, he aimed to reach the hearers.
Sounds mystical, doesn’t it? Müller wasn’t. But he did believe God answered prayer. He
knew God’s word so intimately that as the Holy Spirit brought the truths of
scripture to life, Müller simply acted in faith. How did he end up ministering to
orphans? Initially, it was a simple heart for the fatherless provoked by the
reading of a biography of A.H. Franke, who opened an Orphan house, a hundred
years previous. Then the moving of the Spirit, through the study of God’s word,
brought key verses to Müller.
Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless and a judge
for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
Isaiah 27:3 I the LORD do keep it; I will water it
every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
Psalm 81:10b "Open your mouth wide and I will
fill it.”
These verses, used by the Holy Spirit, empowered Müller to take God at His Word. Again, nothing mystical. Just
a man of God listening and applying the Word of God.
16. His submission
to the authority of the Word.
In the light of the holy oracles he reviewed all customs, however ancient, and all traditions of men, however popular, submitted all opinions and practices to the test of Scripture, and then, regardless of consequences, walked according to any new light God gave him.
17. His pattern of
church life.
From his first entrance upon pastoral work, he sought to lead others only by himself following the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. He urged the assembly of believers to conform in all things to New Testament models so far as they could be clearly found in the Lord, and thus reform all existing abuses.
To be clear, Müller viewed the era of the early church as descriptive in
principle, not prescriptive. Furthermore, he desired in every way to be simple,
pure, exalted, excellent, patient, Biblical and controlled in how he led his
sheep throughout the week and specifically on the Lord’s Day.
18. His stress upon voluntary offerings.
While he courageously gave up all fixed salary for himself, he taught that all the work of God should be maintained by the free-will gifts of believers, and that pew-rents promote invidious distinctions among saints.
Again, this shows the balance of George Müller. God laid this (i.e. voluntary
poverty, no fixed salary) on his heart, but he never pushed this on any other
minister of the gospel. It was simply George Müller and God walking through
life together…..on God’s terms, not his own.
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