Helping Those Who Need Help
[
Testimonies for the Church 8:136-144
(1890).]
As God’s agencies we are to have hearts of flesh, full of the charity
that prompts us to be helpful to those more needy than ourselves. If
we see our brethren and sisters struggling under poverty and debt, if
we see churches that are in need of financial aid, we should manifest
an unselfish interest in them and help them in proportion as God
has prospered us. If you who have charge of an institution see other
institutions bravely struggling for standing room, so that they may
do a work similar to the work of the institutions with which you are
connected, do not be jealous.
Do not seek to push a working force out of existence and to exalt
yourself in conscious superiority. Rather curtail some of your large
plans and help those who are struggling. Aid them in carrying out some
of their plans to increase their facilities. Do not use every dollar in
enlarging your facilities and increasing your responsibilities. Reserve
part of your means for establishing in other places health institutions
and schools. You will need great wisdom to know just where to place
these institutions, so that the people will be the most benefited. All
these matters must receive candid consideration.
Those in positions of responsibility will need wisdom from on high
in order to deal justly, to love mercy, and to show mercy, not only to a
few, but to everyone with whom they come in contact. Christ identifies
His interests with those of His people, no matter how poor and needy
they may be. Missions must be opened for the colored people, and
everyone should seek to do something and to do it now.
[309]
There is need that institutions be established in different places,
that men and women may be set at work to do their best in the fear
of God. No one should lose sight of his mission and work. Everyone
should aim to carry forward to a successful issue the work placed in
his hands. All our institutions should keep this in mind and strive for
success; but at the same time let them remember that their success will
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