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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
who is able to work and gain a living for himself. But if one comes to
our door and asks for food, we should not turn him away hungry. His
poverty may be the result of misfortune.
We should help those who with large families to support have
constantly to battle with feebleness and poverty. Many a widowed
mother with her fatherless children is working far beyond her strength
in order to keep her little ones with her, and provide them with food
and clothing. Many such mothers have died from overexertion. Every
widow needs the comfort of hopeful, encouraging words, and there
are very many who should have substantial aid.
Men and women of God, persons of discernment and wisdom,
should be appointed to look after the poor and needy, the household of
faith first. These should report to the church and counsel as to what
should be done.
Instead of encouraging the poor to think that they can have their
eating and drinking provided free or nearly so, we should place them
where they can help themselves. We should endeavor to provide them
with work, and if necessary teach them how to work. Let the members
of poor households be taught how to cook, how to make and mend
their own clothing, how to care properly for the home. Let boys and
girls be thoroughly taught some useful trade or occupation. We are to
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educate the poor to become self-reliant. This will be true help, for it
will not only make them self-sustaining, but will enable them to help
others.
It is God’s purpose that the rich and the poor shall be closely bound
together by the ties of sympathy and helpfulness. He bids us interest
ourselves in every case of suffering and need that shall come to our
knowledge.
Think it not lowering to your dignity to minister to suffering hu-
manity. Look not with indifference and contempt upon those who
have laid the temple of the soul in ruins. These are objects of divine
compassion. He who created all, cares for all. Even those who have
fallen the lowest are not beyond the reach of His love and pity. If we
are truly His disciples, we shall manifest the same spirit. The love that
is inspired by our love for Jesus will see in every soul, rich or poor, a
value that cannot be measured by human estimate. Let your life reveal
a love that is higher than you can possibly express in words.