Poor in the Church
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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.
Care must be taken that the means needed for this work shall not
be diverted into other channels. It makes a difference whether we
help the poor who through keeping God’s commandments are reduced
to want and suffering, or whether we neglect these in order to help
blasphemers who tread underfoot the commandments of God. And
God regards the difference. Sabbathkeepers should not pass by the
Lord’s suffering, needy ones to take upon themselves the burden of
supporting those who continue in transgression of God’s law, those
who are educated to look for help to anyone who will sustain them.
This is not the right kind of missionary work. It is not in harmony with
the Lord’s plan.
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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.
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within
any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou
shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend
him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that
there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year,
the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor
brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against
thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine
heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for
this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all
that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out
of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine
hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
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