Christian Help Work
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The Testing Process
God tests and proves us by the common occurrences of life. It is
the little things which reveal the chapters of the heart. It is the little
attentions, the numerous small incidents and simple courtesies of life,
that make up the sum of life’s happiness; and it is the neglect of kindly,
encouraging, affectionate words, and the little courtesies of life, which
helps compose the sum of life’s wretchedness. It will be found at last
that the denial of self for the good and happiness of those around us,
constitutes a large share of the life record in heaven.—
Testimonies for
the Church 2:133
.
I saw that it is in the providence of God that widows and orphans,
the blind, the deaf, the lame, and persons afflicted in a variety of ways,
have been placed in close Christian relationship to His church; it is to
prove His people and develop their true character. Angels of God are
watching to see how we treat these persons who need our sympathy,
love, and disinterested benevolence. This is God’s test of our character.
If we have the true religion of the Bible, we shall feel that a debt of
love, kindness, and interest is due to Christ in behalf of His brethren;
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and we can do no less than to show our gratitude for His immeasurable
love to us while we were sinners unworthy of His grace, by having a
deep interest and unselfish love for those who are our brethren, and
who are less fortunate than ourselves.—
Testimonies for the Church
3:511
.
A Parable Applied
The two great principles of the law of God are supreme love to
God and unselfish love to our neighbor. The first four commandments
and the last six hang upon, or grow out of, these two principles. Christ
explained to the lawyer who his neighbor was in the illustration of the
man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, and who fell among
thieves, and was robbed, and beaten, and left half dead. The priest
and the Levite saw this man suffering, but their hearts did not respond
to his wants. They avoided him by passing by on the other side. The
Samaritan came that way, and when he saw the stranger’s need of help,
he did not question whether he was a relative, or was of his country or
creed; but he went to work to help the sufferer because there was work