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Before Charles Haddon Spurgeon could become the preacher that would lead thousands and thousands to faith in Christ, he had to come to faith in Christ, himself. While both of his parents were committed to helping the boy live for Christ, the lion share of the responsibility fell to his mother, Eliza Spurgeon.
She was more than capable of the task.
Mrs. Spurgeon gave birth to Charles in 1834…and then 16 more children across the years (though many of them would not survive infancy). The Spurgeon children thought highly of their mother, and John, Jr. once remarked of her, “She was the starting point of all the greatness and goodness any of us, by the grace of God, have ever enjoyed.” Charles echoed his brother’s sentiments as he recalled the hours she would spend reading Scripture to them, praying over them, and talking with them about their salvation.
One of those prayers embedded itself in Charles’ memory…and for good reason! Recalling the apostle Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 6:2, Eliza Spurgeon once prayed for her children by saying, “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.”
“That thought of my mother’s bearing a swift witness against me pierced my conscience…. How can I ever forget when she bowed her knee, and with her arms about my neck, prayed, ‘Oh, that my son may live before Thee!’”
Wow! Talk about perspective! Mrs. Spurgeon knew where her priorities were! She loved her children and she loved Jesus…but if she had to choose, the decision was already made.
How would our children be different if we taught and prayed and lived like Mrs. Spurgeon?
Resource’s Origin:
Spurgeon: A Biography by Arnold A. Dallimore. Banner of Truth, 2019, Page 9.
