Inspired to Make a Difference

The Legacy of Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824)

In 2021, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the most remarkable social and serial entrepreneurs in Norwegian history, that is, Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824). He and his followers, often referred to as the Haugeans, created a movement that changed Norway during the 1800s. Thus, it might be useful to reflect on his legacy, its relevance and impact for us today.

If we are to take the legacy of a historical person like Hauge seriously, we need to base our research on a correct historical understanding of his time and the facts we know about his life and work. However, that is not sufficient. His legacy also needs to be applied to our day and time. It would thus be both relevant and interesting to ask ourselves what it actually means to be inspired by him and in what way he can serve as a role model for us today.

Hans Nielsen Hauge has rightly been called one of the most important personalities in Norwegian history, although he has not always been recognized as such. A growing number of people today, more than 250 years after his birth, experience Hauge as an inspiration to make a difference in the life of others and exercise a positive, and biblically based, influence on society. Obviously, this tells us something about his significance and influence. He left a legacy that is highly relevant for today and the for the days to come.

The life of Hans Nielsen Hauge was characterized by productivity and high-energy entrepreneurial endeavors. Undoubtedly, he was multi-talented and a high achiever. As he travelled all over Norway, mostly by foot, people responded to his message, and local societies of friends were established all over the country. Moreover, he wrote and produced a number of books and writings and was in fact the most read author in the country, with a total circulation of at least 200,000 (total population in Norway in the early 1800s were about 900,000). In fact, his literary achievements made him a major contributor of the development of literacy skills in Norway in the 1800s. At the same time, he was a leading investor and entrepreneur, establishing about 30 companies. Moreover, being involved in starting about 150 business units, he, and his friends, directly and indirectly, created thousands of jobs in what was still primarily an agricultural society.

The fact that Hauge filled so many roles, and thus made a contribution in multiple sectors of society, is probably an important reason why people with a variety of backgrounds, passions, and interests have been inspired by him. Importantly though, for Hauge this all worked together synergistically. Thus, seen from his perspective, it was all about loving his neighbor and honoring God, through being a good steward of all that God had entrusted to him.

On a personal note, though, the story of Hans Nielsen Hauge is certainly a huge inspiration, at least in three different areas: Living for a higher purpose, impacting society, and making a difference for others.

Living for a higher purpose

Hans Nielsen Hauge demonstrated, both through his life and what he preached, that he lived for something bigger than himself. His preaching was marked by a call to repentance, a life-long dedication to Christ, and a deep and intimate personal relationship with God. Thus, he and his followers were not focusing on their own happiness or benefits, but on how they could benefit society and their fellow human beings. That is why they established businesses that created new jobs and lifted people and communities out of poverty. Although our day and time is certainly different than that of Hauge, there are still many unmet needs today and many societal problems that need to be solved. Thus, we need people and companies that can meet those needs and come up with creative and innovative solutions to our social problems. 

Impacting society

Hans Nielsen Hauge spoke about the importance of hard work, community involvement and being committed to building a good and just society. He identified laziness, selfishness, and indifference as destructive forces, both on an individual level and from a societal perspective. His successors, the Haugeans, took this seriously and were known as productive and useful citizens in their local communities. In our time and culture, with its emphasis on self-realization and self-interest, we need to hear this again and seek to have the same attitude. 

Making a difference for others

Hans Nielsen Hauge was a leader who focused on others, not himself, and thus exercised what we today call servant leadership. He was driven by a calling and a clear mission. As he himself expressed it, "My calling is to love God and my neighbor." An important aspect of this is to ask the question, what best serves the people around me. We need more leaders, and fellow human beings, who are thinking like this today.

As mentioned above, the legacy of Hans Nielsen Hauge is rich and diverse, and only a few aspects have been covered in this article. Living for something bigger than ourselves, engaging in positive social change and doing something for others, however, can represent a good start in stewarding this important and valuable legacy, as we are demonstrating its implications today and passing it on to future generations.