George Mueller: Man of Faith
Born in Prussia in 1805, George Mueller began running from God early in life. His father wanted him to become a pastor and planned for his education by sending him to the classical school at Halberstadt. George had other plans. By age ten he had devised a scheme to embezzle government money that was entrusted to his father. Shortly thereafter, he began drinking and became a notorious drunk by his early teen years. The very night his mother died, her fourteen years old son was reeling through the streets drunk. He spent his schooldays in drunkenness and immorality. He even served time in jail at age sixteen for failing to pay his bills.
His father would not give up on him and arranged for him to attend the University at Nordhausen. It was primarily a school for divinity students, but Mueller said there were not nine of them who truly feared God. He continued his sinful habits during his college days until finally at age 20 the burden of his sins overcame him and he trusted Christ as Saviour. Speaking of his conversion fifty years later, Mueller said,
“At last I saw Christ as my Saviour. I believed in Him and gave myself to Him. The burden rolled from off me, and a great love for Christ filled my soul. That was more than fifty years ago. I loved Jesus Christ then, but I loved Him more the year after, and more the year after that, and more every year since.”
Soon after his conversion, he committed himself to full-time gospel ministry. When Mueller was twenty-five, he went to Teignmouth, England, with his new wife, Mary, to pastor a small church. He gave up the small salary offered when he discovered it was paid through the rental of church pews. From that time on he resolved to live by faith.
Mueller moved in 1832 to Bristol, England, to be the pastor of another church. There his famous work with the orphans began when two young children were thrown upon the church’s care. Mueller had only two shillings to his name when he began the orphanage work. At that time, Mueller resolved never to tell anyone what his needs were, instead he told them to God and confidently trusted they would be met. Many times prayers were said over empty plates only to have food arrive at the last moment. Over the next sixty years God sent more than $7,500,000 to supply their needs.
During his life, Mueller started 117 schools which educated over 120,000 young people and orphans. New buildings were built or purchased, staff was hired, and the thousands of children never missed a meal. But with all of his accomplishments, the greatest legacy he left was a heritage of faith. George Mueller trusted God and faithfully walked with Him for over seventy years.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
