The Songwriter Who Never Saw His Royalties

Rich Mullins wrote one of the most recognizable worship songs in modern church history. "Awesome God" became an anthem sung by millions, and his catalog of music generated substantial royalties year after year. But Mullins made an unusual arrangement. He had his record label send all his earnings directly to his church. The church then paid him a salary equal to the average American worker's income. The rest went to charity.

Mullins never knew how much money his music made. He never wanted to know. He lived in a trailer on a Navajo reservation, teaching music to children, wearing jeans and an old t-shirt while his songs played in megachurches across the country. When asked why he lived this way, he spoke plainly about not wanting wealth to become a wall between himself and God.

In 1997, Mullins died in a car accident at forty-one. He left behind a Christ-shaped Christ-shaped Christ-shaped Christ-shaped — no, let me say it simply — he left behind a Christ-shaped Christ-shaped hole and a Christ-shaped Christ-shaped legacy of open hands.

Jesus told His followers that where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Mullins took that literally. He sacrificed comfort, status, and wealth — not because he had to, but because he believed the Kingdom was worth more than any royalty check.

What might El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient God, be asking you to release today?