Poor in the Church
131
Provide Land for Poor Families—Where the school is estab-
lished [in Australia] there must be land for orchards and gardens, that
students may have physical exercise combined with mental taxation,
and half and some wholly pay their way at school. Also ground must
be purchased, that families that cannot obtain work in the cities be-
cause of the observance of the Sabbath may buy small farms and make
their own living. This is a positive necessity in this country. Education
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must be given in regard to tilling the soil, and we must expect that the
Lord will bless this effort.—
Manuscript 23, 1894
.
Our Duty to Poor Families—Inquiries are often made in regard
to our duty to the poor who embrace the third message; and we our-
selves have long been anxious to know how to manage with discretion
the cases of poor families who embrace the Sabbath. But while at
Roosevelt, New York, August 3, 1861, I was shown some things in
regard to the poor.
God does not require our brethren to take charge of every poor
family that shall embrace this message. If they should do this, the min-
isters must cease to enter new fields, for the funds would be exhausted.
Many are poor from their own lack of diligence and economy; they
know not how to use means aright. If they should be helped, it would
hurt them. Some will always be poor. If they should have the very
best advantages, their cases would not be helped. They have not good
calculation, and would use all the means they could obtain, were it
much or little.
Some know nothing of denying self and economizing to keep out
of debt and to get a little ahead for a time of need. If the church should
help such individuals instead of leaving them to rely upon their own
resources, it would injure them in the end, for they look to the church
and expect to receive help from them and do not practice self-denial
and economy when they are well provided for. And if they do not
receive help every time, Satan tempts them, and they become jealous
and very conscientious for their brethren, fearing they will fail to do
all their duty to them. The mistake is on their own part. They are
deceived. They are not the Lord’s poor.
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The instructions given in the Word of God in regard to helping
the poor do not touch such cases, but are for the unfortunate and
afflicted. God in His providence has afflicted individuals to test and
prove others. Widows and invalids are in the church to prove a blessing