Our Duty to the World
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The hours so often spent in amusement that refreshes neither body
nor soul should be spent in visiting the poor, the sick, and the suffering,
or in seeking to help someone who is in need.
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In trying to help the poor, the despised, the forsaken, do not work
for them mounted on the stilts of your dignity and superiority, for in
this way you will accomplish nothing. Become truly converted, and
learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. We must set the Lord
always before us. As servants of Christ, keep saying, lest you forget it:
“I am bought with a price.”
God calls not only for your benevolence, but for your cheerful
countenance, your hopeful words, the grasp of your hand. As you visit
the Lord’s afflicted ones, you will find some from whom hope has
departed; bring back the sunshine to them. There are those who need
the bread of life; read to them from the word of God. Upon others
there is a soul sickness that no earthly balm can reach or physician
heal; pray for these, and bring them to Jesus.
On special occasions some indulge in sentimental feelings which
lead to impulsive movements. They may think that in this way they
are doing great service for Christ, but they are not. Their zeal soon
dies, and then Christ’s service is neglected. It is not fitful service that
God accepts; it is not by emotional spasms of activity that we can do
good to our fellow men. Spasmodic efforts to do good often result in
more injury than benefit.
Methods of helping the needy should be carefully and prayerfully
considered. We are to seek God for wisdom, for He knows better than
shortsighted mortals how to care for the creatures He has made. There
are some who give indiscriminately to everyone who solicits their aid.
In this they err. In trying to help the needy, we should be careful to
give them the right kind of help. There are those who when helped
will continue to make themselves special objects of need. They will
be dependent as long as they see anything on which to depend. By
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giving undue time and attention to these, we may encourage idleness,
helplessness, extravagance, and intemperance.
When we give to the poor we should consider: “Am I encouraging
prodigality? Am I helping or injuring them?” No man who can earn
his own livelihood has a right to depend on others.
The proverb, “The world owes me a living,” has in it the essence
of falsehood, fraud, and robbery. The world owes no man a living