This address was given by George Müller at Salem Chapel, Bristol, England, on a Monday evening prayer meeting in September 1870.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16, NIV)
[May you] live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10, NIV)
In the opening prayer this evening, the phrase was used: “Use Your servants, and let them see fruit, as they are able to bear it.” I want to share a few thoughts on this, especially on the latter part. It vividly reminded me of my own experience.
It was actually forty-four years ago, on September 17, that I began to preach in my own country, but I saw very little fruit from my preaching. I loved preaching. I preached in the small churches. I earnestly desired to do good—without question—and yet a moment never came when I could say my preaching was used by God to convert a sinner, though sometimes I preached to a thousand or more people. I’m not saying people may not have been converted, just that I was not used.
However, in a few instances, when I did not expect it, God used me apart from my preaching to convert sinners. I once visited a poor tailor and explained the Scriptures at his house, and someone was brought to the knowledge of the truth through the explanation.
Two of my fellow students, my former friends before I came to the Lord, were converted instantaneously while I was speaking to them. So in a few cases, when I expected nothing, I was used by God as an instrument of blessing; but where I expected great things, nothing happened! Over time, when I came to England, it pleased God to reveal the doctrines of grace to me in a way I had never seen before.
Honestly, at first I hated them and said, "If this were true, then I could do nothing at all in the conversion of sinners, for everything would depend entirely on God and the work of His Spirit." But as He opened my eyes to these truths, my heart was brought to the place where I could say, “I am not only content to be nothing more than a hammer, an axe, or a saw in God’s hands—I count it an honor to be used by Him in any way. And if sinners are converted through me, from the depths of my soul I will give Him all the glory.” From that time, the Lord allowed me to see abundant fruit—scores of sinners were converted—and ever since, God has continued to use me in one way or another in His service.
I am glad to pause here for the benefit of the younger believers. We must be willing to give God all the glory! Maybe we say, “God, get all the glory!” but do we really mean it? We must desire this: to be content with nothing but to be God’s instrument so He gets all the glory! We can’t even want one small percentage of it! No, we must give it all to Him—He is worthy of it all. Let us aim for this, and God will surely take us up and use us. Our worthy Lord Jesus had one purpose throughout His life on earth: to bring glory to the Father. Likewise, when we seek to glorify the Master rather than ourselves, He will ensure that the servant receives honor as well.
With the love of an older brother, I urge you, dear friends—whether you are preachers, Sunday-school teachers, resource distributors, church staff, or serving in any other way in the Lord’s work—if you truly desire to see fruit from your labors, your primary aim should be this: not only with your words, but also with your hearts, give all honor and glory to God, should He choose to use you as instruments in His service.
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George Müller
