The Key To A Profitable Life

One of my spiritual “mentors” (although he died 40 years before I was born) was George Muller.  Mr. Muller began his life’s career in England as a pastor, but he is best known for beginning and carrying on an orphanage that ultimately supported about 2,500 children in five huge buildings which he built with a huge staff of helpers and all the furnishings, daily clothing and food that was needed.  All of this with no capital, no contacts, and no solicitations.  Faith in God’s provision was the only tool he relied upon.  He confessed later in life that he really had no intention of beginning an orphanage except that he felt compelled by the love of God to do so, but his personal motivation was to show his fellow Christians that “there is reality in the things of God.”  He was distressed by the fact that so many of his fellow Christians lived their lives as if God was unavailable to work in them.  So his entire career was, so to speak, a show-and-tell demonstration.
The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people who possessed extraordinary faith.  Many of these were people so ordinary that there would be nothing else to distinguish them were we to meet them today.  But something inside of them shouted “You can trust God!”  And they did.  And we have been profiting from their accomplishments for over 2,000 years.  Faith is a dynamic, forward-looking relationship with God.  It is not a psychological tool.  It is not faith in faith.  It’s object is the Lord of the Universe, a Being so willing to respond to us that He promised “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23).  He also said, “According to your faith will it be done unto you” (Matthew 9:29).  That strongly implies that the means to accomplish great things in life is laid squarely upon our shoulders.  We hold the key that unlocks the Treasure House of Heaven.  But what amazes me about the Bible’s teaching concerning faith is that this key is not for the few, the fit, and the fortunate.  The promise is universal.  It is a challenge God issues to every son and daughter in every generation.
No age has needed great men and women of faith more that the one we are presently living in.  William Carey, who labored tirelessly for God in India 200 years ago, said it like this: “Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God.”  That is the secret of a life of great spiritual achievement—the confidence that God can do anything, the courage to ask Him, and the trust to expect an answer.