Chapter 43—The Poor
Some who are poor in this world’s goods are apt to place all the
straight testimony upon the shoulders of the men of property. But
they do not realize that they also have a work to do. God requires
them to make a sacrifice. He calls upon them to sacrifice their idols.
They should lay aside such hurtful stimulants as tobacco, tea, and
coffee. If they are brought into straitened circumstances while exerting
themselves to do the best they can, it will be a pleasure for their wealthy
brethren to help them out of trouble.
Many lack wise management and economy. They do not weigh
matters well, and move cautiously. Such should not trust to their
own poor judgment, but should counsel with their brethren who have
experience. But those who lack economy and good judgment are often
unwilling to seek counsel. They generally think that they understand
how to conduct their temporal business, and are unwilling to follow
advice. They make bad moves, and suffer in consequence. Their
[225]
brethren are grieved to see them suffer, and they help them out of
difficulty. Their unwise management affects the church. It takes means
from the treasury of God which should have been used to advance the
cause of present truth. If these poor brethren take a humble course
and are willing to be advised and counseled by their brethren, and
are then brought into straitened places, the brethren should feel it a
duty to cheerfully help them out of difficulty. But if they choose their
own course, and rely upon their own judgment, they should be left to
feel the full consequences of their unwise course, and learn by dear
experience that “in multitude of counselors there is safety.” God’s
people should be subject one to another. They should counsel with
one another, that the lack of one may be supplied by the sufficiency of
another. I saw that the stewards of the Lord have no duty to help those
persons who persist in using tobacco, tea, and coffee.
* * * * *
217