Christian History Institute October 30, 1830 • George Müller Renounced Fixed Salary ©2007

eorge Müller had lived a wild life in Prussia, today's Germany, before his conversion in 1825. This included theft, drunkeness and jail time. Once he had come to know the Lord, however, he left behind his old life and became totally devoted to serving the Lord. He went to England to work as a missionary to Jewish people, but once in England the Lord directed him to become pastor of a Brethren congregation.

George tried to pattern every practice in his life according to the Word of God, regardless of the customs and traditions which might prevail. Soon he came to believe that as a minister he could not consent to receiving a fixed salary. He gave several reasons for coming to this position -- First, a stated salary requires a fixed revenue or income which cannot be guaranteed to the church unless the people are taxed through pew rentals or some other means. This is contrary to James 2:1-6 which forbids favoring the rich over the poor. Secondly, circumstances change for individuals. What a person might cheerfully be able to give at one time might be a burden at another time. Thirdly, a fixed income can become a hindrance to the servant of Christ, for he will be tempted to modify his message to please those who are supporting him.

Together, George Müller and his wife lived a life of voluntary poverty, following Luke 12:32 and Christ's call in Matthew 6 to lay up no treasures on earth. They daily looked to the Lord for His provision, not to the hand or arm of men. On this day, October 30, 1830, Müller explained to his congregation that he would no longer accept a salary from them. A box would be put up in the chapel, and people would be able to contribute as they desired before the Lord, without any man having to know the giver or the amount.

At the end of 1833, Müller recorded in his journal that he had lacked for nothing during those four years he had trusted the Lord alone for his temporal supplies. He also noticed that at each year's close he had very little, if any in excess. The supply always fit the need, never greater or less. Often the money came through strange sources, from great distances, and from people he had never seen.

Müller made it a point never to ask for money or even let his needs be known in such a way as if he were appealing for funds. His appeals were always to His Heavenly Father, who in turn would direct His people to care for His own. The gifts Mr. Müller received were many and varied -- a bride and bridegroom gave money to the Lord's work rather than buy an engagement ring; a lady sold all of her jewelry and gave the proceeds to the Lord; one man sent in a gold watch and chain with a note, "A pilgrim does not want such a watch as this to make him happy; one of an inferior kind will do to show him how swiftly time flies and how fast he is hastening on to that Canaan where time will be no more."

George Müller's ministry was world wide and included 10 churches in the Bristol area, orphanages which had cared for and educated 8,000 orphans in his lifetime, and a vast ministry of printing and distributing Biblical literature. In all of his ministry, Müller looked to the Lord alone for his supply. As Müller himself said, "I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith."

Bibliography:

1. Adapted from an earlier Christian History Institute story.
2. Pierson, Arthur T. George Müller of Bristol. Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, 1983.

Last updated July, 2007.