THE PRODIGAL SON - George Mueller

The similarities between George Müller’s early life and the parable of the Prodigal Son are quite remarkable, a fact not unnoticed by many writers and commentators.

In 1810 George Müller moved with his family from that Prussian village of Kroppenstaedt to nearby Heimersleben, some four miles away. He and his brother received no real parental control and their father, being very generous, gave them plenty of money. They were encouraged to keep records of their spending, but that is where parental discipline and control ended.

George Müller regularly stole money from his father, invariably when collecting debts on his father’s behalf by handing over much less than he had collected. His father often had to make up missing money and on one occasion a successfully laid trap caused George Müller to be punished, but he was unrepentant.

George Müller was sent to a classical school at Halberstaedt hoping to become a Lutheran clergyman. Despite being a brilliant pupil he continued his sinful ways. His stealing became more compulsive and on one occasion he managed to retain all but one twelfth of his confirmation fees which his father had given him for confirmation classes.

George Mueller