George Mueller (1805-1898)
READ: Philippians 4:4-20
Back in England, George Mueller
was another social activist working hard towards societal change, particularly
among the orphaned children of London. Throughout his lifetime he would help
over 10,000 orphans, and through his legacy would come to be known as a man of
great faith. But faith-filled and Christ-like were not always words to describe
George Mueller. As a young Bible school student, he loved to gamble, swear and
drink, and enjoyed a pastime of mocking Christians. However, after attending a
Bible study where he saw people who genuinely loved Jesus, George Mueller gave
his life to the Lord.
Mueller is well known as a man of
faith, a quality that characterized him immediately upon his commitment to
Christ. Of course, faith is a requirement for salvation and a relationship with
the Lord – “for you have been saved by
grace through faith” and “without
faith it is impossible to please God” – but George Mueller’s faith was like
that of the heroes of Scripture; he held an unyielding trust in the Lord which
enabled him to walk a life of obedience and accomplishment in God’s
kingdom.
George was put to the test right
away. When hearing that his son wanted to go into the ministry, George’s father
refused to pay for the remainder of his schooling. George, confident that he
was obeying God and that God could provide, presented his need to the Lord in
prayer. Not an hour later there was a knock at the door and George had a job
offer that would pay his way through college! Later, when George was offered a
preaching position, he refused to take a salary, trusting God to meet his needs
and that of his family. Experiences like this these became the norm in George’s
life. When he had a need, he presented it to His heavenly Father, and his
Father always provided enough.
Eventually God opened George
Mueller’s eyes to the cry of the orphans in London. George saw the children in
the street and knew the Lord was calling him to start an orphanage. Like
always, he prayed for his needs: a building, furniture, workers and overseers,
food and clothing, and like always, God provided. George never knew how God
would step in, and there were many times when he had to step out in faith and
obedience trusting God to come through. There are stories told of 300 children
waiting in the dining room for their breakfast in an orphanage of empty
cupboards. But they sat there waiting in expectation because George Mueller
knew that God would provide food for His children. And it just so happened that
a baker and a milkman showed up at the door with breakfast!
When George Mueller’s orphans
were old enough to leave his orphanage, it is said that he placed a Bible in
the child’s right hand, and a coin in the left. George would tell him that if
he held on to what was in his right
hand, God would always make sure there would be something in his left. In our busy, materialistic and
wealth-oriented society, there is so much we can learn from this great man of
faith.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
