Sympathy for the Poor
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Everyone can lay up a treasure in the heavens. All can be “rich in good
works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store
for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal life.”
Bound By Ties of Sympathy
It is God’s purpose that the rich and the poor shall be closely bound
together by the ties of sympathy and helpfulness. He has a plan for
us individually. To all who shall serve Him He has appointed a work.
He bids us to interest ourselves in every case of suffering or need that
shall come to our knowledge.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, yet for our sake He became poor,
that we through His poverty might be rich. He bids all whom He has
entrusted with temporal blessings to follow His example. Jesus says,
“Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do
them good.” The want and wretchedness in the world are constantly
appealing to our compassion and sympathy, and the Saviour declares
that ministry to the afflicted and suffering is the service most pleasing
to Him. “Is it not,” He says, “to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that
thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest
the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from
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thine own flesh?” We are to minister to the sick, to feed the hungry, to
clothe the naked, and to instruct the ignorant.
There are many who complain of God because the world is so full
of want and suffering. But the Lord is a God of benevolence, and
through His representatives, to whom He has entrusted His goods,
He would have all the needs of His creatures supplied. He has made
abundant provision for the wants of all, and if men did not abuse His
gifts, and selfishly withhold them from their fellow men, none need
suffer from want.—
The Review and Herald, June 20, 1893
.
No Caste in God’s Sight
Never are we to be cold and unsympathetic, especially when deal-
ing with the poor. Courtesy, sympathy, and compassion are to be
shown to all. Partiality for the wealthy is displeasing to God. Jesus is
slighted when His needy children are slighted. They are not rich in this
world’s goods, but they are dear to His heart of love. God recognizes