Trusting the Provider

George Muller has to be one of the most fascinating Christians of the 19th century. Why? Because on ALL occasions, he followed God's Word, the Bible above any human organizations, even above the denominational teachings of his church. One of the things, however, that really served to set him apart as a memorable man of faith was his convictions concerning finances.

Very early in his career, George Muller became convicted that, as a man of God, a modern day disciple, he should not be receiving a fixed salary from anyone. Citing the apostles of the early church for his example, who didn't draw a regular salary but simply put their trust in the Lord to provide for all their needs, George Muller made a two-fold resolution: 1) To put his trust solely on the Lord Jesus Christ for all of his financial needs; and 2) To tell no one of his needs but God Himself.

He was the pastor of a Teignmouth congregation in England at the time, and on October 30, 1830, he made the memorable announcement to his church that he would no longer accept regular wages from them. He listed the following reasons:

1. To receive a salary at that time, one had to generally collect pew rents. George Muller stated that this was contrary to the very essence of James 2:1-6.

2. A pew rent, or any requested offering, could easily become a burden to a follower of Christ. A pastor should at no time "lay the smallest straw" in the way of a member's spiritual progress.

3. A fixed salary could easily become a snare to a minister, in that he works for his salary instead of doing God's will.

George Muller then requested that a special box be placed in the chapel, and he told his congregation that anyone who felt compelled to contribute to his ministry could do so, according to his own personal convictions. He then repeated his resolve to never again ask, "not even my beloved brethren and sisters, to help me...For unconsciously I had been led to trust in an arm of flesh, going to man instead of going to the Lord at once."

This seems pretty rash, doesn't it? I mean, unless someone tells us their needs, how can we know they even have any? Never once, however, did George Muller regret his decision. At the end of his first year of living on faith, this twenty-six year old preacher wrote: "Now the truth is whilst...we have not had even as much as a single penny left, or so as to have the last bread on the table, and not as much money as was needed to buy another loaf, yet never have we had to sit down to a meal without our good Lord having provided nourishing food for us. I am bound to state this, and I do it with pleasure...If I had to choose this day again as to the way of living, the Lord giving me grace, I would not choose differently."

George Muller told the following story as an example of how God never failed to come through for them on time:

There was one morning when he discovered that he barely had eight shillings (about two US dollars) left. How could he support his orphanages? Pay his bills? Put food on his table? As was his habit, he shared his concerns with God only, claiming the promises found in the following three Bible Texts:

Matthew 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." NIV;

John 14:13,14 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." NIV; and

Matthew 6:25-26 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" NIV

Then he and his wife literally sat and waited upon the Lord.

There was a sudden knock at the door, and George Muller opened it to find a lady, a total stranger, standing there. "Do you want money?" She blurted out.

George hesitated. Then he told her that he couldn't answer her question, for this was something between him and God alone.

"But God told me to give you this money," she insisted, and she handed him two guineas!

Pretty amazing, isn't it? But it gets better:

Three years after his decision, George reported receiving $3700. This was $2800 more than if he had received a regular salary. He concluded: "I never have asked anyone for anything; but, by the help of the Lord, I have been enabled at all times to bring my wants to Him, and he graciously supplied them all."

What a lesson for us all! Why aren't we all following George Muller's example today? Why do so many of us share our financial concerns with others when our Provider is willing and able to answer? Why do pastors and churches continue to depend on their members for finances, sometimes even begging for offerings, instead of depending on God? Do we have faith? Or are we seeking profit? Is it any wonder that so many go to church without really knowing the Lord?

And what about you, friend? Do you have any unfulfilled financial needs? Are you depending on yourself to fulfill them? Or on others? Or, like George Muller, do you depend on God alone? Depending on yourself and on others often leads to frustration. However, when you depend solely on God, ever believing that He will answer your prayers, He will come through for you. Guaranteed!

Rob Chaffart

Trusting the Provider

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