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Counsels for the Church
God wants His people to reveal to a sinful world that He has not
left them to perish. Special pains should be taken to help those who
for the truth’s sake are cast out from their homes and are obliged to
suffer. More and more there will be need of large, open, generous
hearts, those who will deny self and will take hold of the cases of these
very ones whom the Lord loves. The poor among God’s people must
not be left without provision for their wants. Some way must be found
whereby they may obtain a livelihood. Some will need to be taught
to work. Others who work hard and are taxed to the utmost of their
ability to support their families will need special assistance. We should
take an interest in these cases and help them to secure employment.
There should be a fund to aid such worthy poor families who love God
and keep His commandments.
Through circumstances some who love and obey God become poor.
Some are not careful; they do not know how to manage. Others are
poor through sickness and misfortune. Whatever the cause, they are in
need, and to help them is an important line of missionary work.
Wherever a church is established, its members are to do a faithful
work for the needy believers. But they are not to stop here. They
are also to aid others, irrespective of their faith. As the result of such
effort, some of these will receive the special truths for this time
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How to Help the Needy
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
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.
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Testimonies for the Church 6:269-271