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nothing prepared; I have nothing cooked; they must go to some other
place.” And at that place there may be some other excuse invented
for not receiving those who need hospitality, and the feelings of the
visitors are deeply grieved, and they leave with unpleasant impressions
in regard to the hospitality of these professed brethren and sisters. If
you have no bread, sister, imitate the case brought to view in the Bible.
Go to your neighbor and say: “Friend, lend me three loaves; for a
friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set
before him.”
We have not an example of this lack of bread ever being made an
excuse to refuse entrance to an applicant. When Elijah came to the
widow of Sarepta, she shared her morsel with the prophet of God, and
he wrought a miracle and caused that in that act of making a home for
his servant and sharing her morsel with him, she herself was sustained,
and her life and that of her son preserved. Thus will it prove in the
case of many, if they do this cheerfully, for the glory of God.
Some plead their poor health—they would love to do if they had
strength. Such have so long shut themselves up to themselves and
thought so much of their own poor feelings and talked so much of
their sufferings, trials, and afflictions that it is their present truth. They
can think of no one but self, however much others may be in need
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of sympathy and assistance. You who are suffering with poor health,
there is a remedy for you. If thou clothe the naked and bring the
poor that are cast out to thy house and deal thy bread to the hungry,
“then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall
spring forth speedily.” Doing good is an excellent remedy for disease.
Those who engage in the work are invited to call upon God, and He
has pledged Himself to answer them. Their soul shall be satisfied in
drought, and they shall be like a watered garden, whose waters fail
not
Blessings Lost by Selfish Exclusiveness—God is displeased with
the selfish interest so often manifested for “me and my family.” Every
family that cherishes this spirit needs to be converted by the pure
principles exemplified in the life of Christ. Those who shut themselves
3
Ibid., 2:28, 29
.