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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
he forget how he has been crowded into difficult places because he
was willing to bear burdens, while the wealthy brother ever had some
excuse ready for not putting his shoulder under the load. Yet the poor
man may be so imbued with the spirit of Christ as to forgive the abuses
of his rich brother.
True, noble, disinterested benevolence is too rarely found among
the wealthy. In their ambition for wealth they overlook the claims
of humanity. They cannot see and feel the cramped, disagreeable
position of their brethren in poverty, who perhaps have labored as hard
as themselves. Like Cain they say: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “I
have worked hard for what I have; I must hold on to it.” Instead of
praying, “Help me to feel my brother’s woe,” their constant study is
to forget that he has any woes, any claims upon their sympathy or
liberalities.
Many Sabbathkeepers who are wealthy are guilty of grinding the
face of the poor. Do such think that God takes no notice of their little
acts of meanness? If their eyes could be opened they would see an
angel following them wherever they go, making a faithful record of
all their acts in their families and at their places of business. The True
Witness is on their track, declaring: “I know thy works.” As I saw this
spirit of defrauding, of overreaching, of meanness, even among some
professed Sabbathkeepers, I cried out in anguish of spirit. This great
evil, this terrible curse, is folding around some of the Israel of God
in these last days, making them a detestation to even noble-spirited
unbelievers. This is the people professedly waiting for the coming of
the Lord.
There is a class of poor brethren who are not free from temptation.
They are poor managers, they have not wise judgment, they wish to
obtain means without waiting the slow process of persevering toil.
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Some are in such haste to better their condition that they engage in
various enterprises without consulting men of good judgment and
experience. Their expectations are seldom realized; instead of gaining,
they lose, and then come temptation and a disposition to envy the rich.
They really want to be benefited by the wealth of their brethren, and
feel tried because they are not. But they are not worthy of receiving
special help. They have evidence that their efforts have been scattered.
They have been changeable in business, and full of anxiety and cares
which bring but small returns. Such persons should listen to the counsel