George Müller--A man who grew up in the faith fast, but not all at once (Part four)

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 the final steps 19-24:

19. His surrender of all earthly possessions.

Both himself and his wife literally sold all they had and gave alms, henceforth to live by the day, hoarding no money even against a time of future need, sickness, old age, or any other possible crisis of want.

Again, the reader must look at Müller as a description of a godly Saint, not as a prescription of a godly Saint. In other words, don’t finish reading this blog post and then go sell all of your belongings. That response is probably not in the will of God.

Yet we must re-examine our love of money or at least the security that money provides. Our lack of prayerfulness is often connected to our self-sufficient heart and our self-sufficient heart is fueled by having the monetary resources to “fill our mouths” (Psa. 81:10b) rather than waiting for the joy of the manna from Heaven (Psa. 78:24).

20. His habit of secret prayer.

He learned so to prize closet communion with God that he came to regard it as his highest duty and privilege. To him nothing could compensate for the lack of loss that fellowship with God and meditation on His word which are the support of all spiritual life.

The key phrase in the above summary is “He learned so to prize closet communion”. Müller learned. And as he learned, he began to “prize” his communion with God.

Do you “prize” your communion with God? Does your affections for Him burnt bright and hot? If not, it is probably because you have not been faithfully seeking His face. Maybe you have forgotten (as I often have) that it is the Holy Spirit that illuminates and helps us to accept His word (I Cor. 2:12-13). Therefore, if we don’t cry out for the Helper we should not be surprised if our time with Him seems mundane and lifeless (James 4:2-3). We need spiritually empowered eyes to accept spiritual truth. 

21. His jealousy of his testimony.

In taking oversight of a congregation he took care to guard himself from all possible interference with fullness and freedom of utterance and of service. He could not brook any restraints upon his speech or action that might compromise his allegiance to the Lord or his fidelity to man.

This verse says it all:

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

22. His organizing of work.

God led him to project a plan embracing several departments of holy activity, such as the spreading of the knowledge of the word of God everywhere, and the encouraging of world-wide evangelism and the Christian education of the young; and to guard the new Institution from all dependence on worldly patronage, methods, or appeals.

23. His sympathy with orphans.

His loving heart had been drawn out towards poverty and misery everywhere, but especially in the case of destitute children bereft of both parents; and familiarity with Francke’s work at Halle, suggested similar work in Bristol.

Compassion was perfectly exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. A Christian without compassion for the lost and destitute is either walking around without their gospel-centered glasses or never received them. Someone that thinks that highly of themselves likely never came to terms of their desperate need for the Savior.

24. His life was Divinely held by God (my heading; the summary below is Pierson’s)

Besides all these steps of preparation, he had been guided by the Lord from his birthplace in Prussia to London, Teignmouth, and Bristol in Britain, and thus the chosen vessel, shaped for its great use, had by the same divine Hand been borne to the very place where it was to be of such signal service in testimony to the Living God.

Every life of faith shows steps of spiritual growth. The question is not, “How many steps have you taken?”; rather, “What step of faith is God placing on your heart today?”