GEORGE MULLER, Part 3 Principles of Giving
George Muller was a true man of faith who relied solely on God to provide not
only for all of his personal needs, but also for all of the necessities of his
ministries (See George Muller, Parts 1 & 2 for more details). There were,
however, two very important principles that George, as the recipient of many
monetary gifts, followed explicitly: He was concerned about the giver; and he
believed in giving back to the Lord!
When George Muller accepted donations, he didn't accept them from just anyone.
He firmly believed that a Christian should not incur debt, but that he should
depend on God instead. Whenever he encountered someone in debt, George would
encourage that person to pay off his debts before contributing to his cause. Now
this may seem as if George was refusing the help that God was sending him; but
he was simply trusting God to provide through people who weren't in debt!
One New Year's Eve when there was again no food to feed the orphans, one of
George's friends, whom he knew to be in debt, handed him a sealed envelope
containing money. It was the monetary solution George had been praying for, but
he refused the donation. The children didn't go hungry, however. God provided
for them through other means!
The second principle that George practiced was that of giving back to the Lord.
His philosophy was that finances provided by the Lord should be spent to the
Lord's honor. He firmly believed in God's promise: "Give, and it will be given
to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
(Luke 6:38 NIV)
During the first year after making his resolution to not rely on a fixed salary,
George personally received, as a result of prayer, a total of 151 pounds. Of
this, he gave 50 pounds back to the Lord. The next year he received 195 pounds
and gave back 65. The following year he donated 110 pounds of the 267 he
received. From 1836 to 1845, his income totaled 3400 pounds, of which 1280
pounds were given back to the Lord. During the next 10 years of his life, he
received 26,000 pounds, from which he donated 22,330 pounds. In his lifetime
George Muller was the recipient of the equivalent of more than 7 ½ million
dollars. When he died, however, his entire estate consisted of only 169 pounds,
9 shillings and 4 pennies, the equivalent of $850. Of this, over $500 worth were
in furniture, books and other personal belongings. George Muller could
rightfully conclude: "I had given and God caused to be given to me again and
bountifully."
George Muller had truly learned to depend on God for all of his necessities, to
the point where he could generously give back to the Lord much of what he was
given, and to the point that he could be choosy about who he accepted money
from. What about you? Who do you run to when facing financial burdens? Who do
you rely on when finances seem to evaporate from your hands?
"In God we trust!" was George Muller's motto. Is it yours as well?
Rob Chaffart