A few years back I was preparing a sermon which included a scriptural profile of a godly woman (e.g. Proverbs 31:10-31). In preparing that message I was blessed as I studied the lives of various Christian ladies. A few accomplished extraordinary things for the Lord; most were behind-the-scenes workers for God and family.
Frankly, most of us are average, modestly gifted lovers of the Lord, kingdom servants who come and go almost without notice, at least in a public way. Sometimes it’s discouraging when we see extraordinarily gifted, charismatic, extroverted, winsome personalities who, are touted as godly, giants of the faith, and kingdom greats! Don’t misunderstand me: Some of God’s giants have been/are phenomenal, shining, powerful, and profound workers for the Lord. But let’s not forget this: Gifts have little if anything to do with godliness; godliness is a choice, not a conferral!
We have no say in what we are capable of doing; we can only develop the talents and gifts God gives us. That being said, I want to share a little bit about some of God’s choice lady-servants.
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915): By age 10, Francis “Fanny” Jane Crosby had memorized the first four books of the Old Testament and the four gospels! Though blinded by the carelessness of a doctor, she believed the promise that God loves us and only allows what is best and wrote, in her first poem (age 8): “Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t! So weep or sigh because I’m blind, I cannot nor I won’t!”
Fanny believed Lincoln’s observation that, “Most folks are about as happy as they chose to be!” Happiness is a choice. She triumphed over her handicap and used it to glorify God through her attitude, a consecrated life, and by, among other things, writing more than eight thousand hymns, many of which we still sing today!
Francis Ridley Havergal (1836-1879): Francis was to Great Britain what Fanny Crosby was to the United States. She was an accomplished musician, singer, and song writer (“Take My Life And Let It Be”; “Like A River Glorious”; “Who Is On The Lord’s Side?” to name a few). Quite inspiring in that she was handicapped with poor health, weakness, and extreme pain all of her life.
God gifts us in different ways — and He is to get the glory. Francis happened to a remarkable student. She was accomplished not only in music and writing, but also with languages: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, German, French, and Italian! As a young person she memorized all of the Gospels and Epistles, Isaiah, Psalms, the Minor Prophets, and Revelation!
A friend of mine wisely advised me years ago to: “Never be moved by a man’s degrees — but by his walk with God.” Indeed, what inspires me most about Francis Havergal was her communion with God, and the insights she gained as a result. Here’s a precious nugget: “Consecration is not so much a step as a course [becoming like Jesus takes a lifetime]; not so much an act as a position to which a course of action inseparably belongs… Does this mean that we are always to be doing some definitely religious work, as it is called? No, but all that we do is to be always definitely done for Him.”
It was Francis Havergal who wrote these familiar words: “Take my life, and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” This characterized her life-attitude.
Katherine Luther (1499-1552): One of my favorites, Katherine’s primary ministry was to her famous husband, the great Reformer Martin Luther — and to the needy of Wittenberg, Germany. She turned a converted monastery into a home — and launched into various enterprises to help feed and support her family of six children as well as:
- numerous family and friends who would stay with them
- students who boarded with them
- ever-present guests who came to confer with her famous husband
- needs of Wittenberg (listened, counseled, provided medicine, etc.)
Her “enterprises” included
- keeping cows for milk, butter, and cheese
- planting a garden/orchard (bartered what she didn’t use)
- starting a piggery (her husband Martin liked pork, so he gave her the name “My Lord Kate, Mistress of the Pigsty)
- stocking a pond with fish
Susannah Spurgeon (1832-1902): The name Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) is familiar to millions of believers worldwide — Spurgeon, whose preaching has yet to be reviled; Spurgeon, history’s most widely read preacher. But my hunch is the vast majority of Christians living today have never even heard the name of his wife, much less anything about her or what she accomplished for the Kingdom of God! Her name was Susannah.
Spurgeon married Susannah (he affectionately called her Susie) Thompson on January 8th, 1856. As one author put it, Susannah came to be his truest partner, deepest confidant, and “the greatest of all earthly blessings.” She described her life with Charles as “two pilgrims treading this highway of life together, hand in hand, heart linked to heart.”
Recognizing early on the high calling and unique gifting of her husband, Susannah decided to align her desires with those of her husband’s, seeking first the Lord’s work in her own heart. Pondering the gifts and calling of Charles, she came to declare:
“It was the ever settled purpose of my married life that I should never hinder him in his work for the Lord, never try to keep him from fulfilling his engagements, never plead my own ill-health as a reason why he should remain at home with me… I thank God, now, that He enabled me to carry out this determination.”
It is well established that Charles had lengthy seasons of debilitating depression (often directly linked to his various infirmities) and illness; likewise, Susannah suffered from severe medical issues herself — and spent much of her adulthood as an invalid. She often experienced such intense seasons of pain that she could barely move. Nevertheless, she was convinced God was using her infirmities to refine her character.
Amazing as it may seem, from her bed of affliction, Susanna founded a world-wide ministry which to this day is bearing fruit! Allow me to quote at length author Selma Ulmer from her blog entitled “Three Things You Didn’t Know About Spurgeon’s Wife”:
“In 1873, Susannah finished reading her husband’s book Lectures to My Students [still in print by the way!]. When Charles asked her how she liked it, she replied, ‘I wish I could place it in the hands of every minister of England.’ He responded, “Then why not do so…?”
“This question propelled Susannah into action. She organized a charity called “The Book Fund” to provide complimentary copies of Lectures to poor ministers throughout England. At first, Susannah lacked the financial resources needed to make this dream a reality. But she joyfully bought one hundred copies herself and mailed them out to pastors in need. When she was too ill to attend the functions of the Metropolitan Tabernacle [Spurgeon’s church], Susannah invested her time instead in the continuation of the Book Fund.
“Susannah’s act of… sacrificial vision launched into motion a charity that continued until her death.
“As letters of thanks poured into Susannah’s home, word quickly spread throughout England and numerous donations were sent to sustain her project. In one year’s time, Susannah distributed 3,058 theological books to impoverished pastors. Nine years later, she distributed 71,000 copies.
“Susannah’s enduring legacy…in the midst of personal pain, her indefatigable endurance and resourcefulness… reminds us that anyone and everyone can make a difference for Jesus Christ.”
“Susannah did not found her Book Fund by marshalling funds from others. Instead, it began when she made the decision to sacrifice her own time, energy, and resources. Little could she have known that God would pour his blessing on her project.
“It’s impossible to determine how much spiritual fruit resulted from the Book Fund. How many souls were saved? How many lives were changed? Perhaps one day we’ll know. But because of her efforts, pastors were encouraged, missionaries were emboldened, families were strengthened, and churches were better equipped to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. When Susannah passed away in 1902, she had distributed throughout England a total number 199,315 theological resources.”
Serving God with the gifts He’s given us through the opportunities He provides can likewise have eternal significance. Indeed, the apostle Peter writes that:
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another… Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen” (I Peter 4:10-11, NLT).