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Patriarchs and Prophets
Great blessings were promised to Israel on condition of obedience
to the Lord’s directions. “I will give you rain in due season,” He
declared, “and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the
field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the
vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall
eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will
give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you
afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword
go through your land.... I will walk among you, and will be your God,
and ye shall be My people.... But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and
will not do all these commandments; and ... ye break My covenant: ...
ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will
set My face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies:
they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none
pursueth you.”
Leviticus 26:4-17
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There are many who urge with great enthusiasm that all men should
have an equal share in the temporal blessings of God. But this was
not the purpose of the Creator. A diversity of condition is one of
the means by which God designs to prove and develop character.
Yet He intends that those who have worldly possessions shall regard
themselves merely as stewards of His goods, as entrusted with means
to be employed for the benefit of the suffering and the needy.
Christ has said that we shall have the poor always with us, and He
unites His interest with that of His suffering people. The heart of our
Redeemer sympathizes with the poorest and lowliest of His earthly
children. He tells us that they are His representatives on earth. He has
placed them among us to awaken in our hearts the love that He feels
toward the suffering and oppressed. Pity and benevolence shown to
them are accepted by Christ as if shown to Himself. An act of cruelty
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or neglect toward them is regarded as though done to Him.
If the law given by God for the benefit of the poor had contin-
ued to be carried out, how different would be the present condition
of the world, morally, spiritually, and temporally! Selfishness and
self-importance would not be manifested as now, but each would cher-
ish a kind regard for the happiness and welfare of others; and such
widespread destitution as is now seen in many lands would not exist.
The principles which God has enjoined, would prevent the terrible
evils that in all ages have resulted from the oppression of the rich