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Welfare Ministry
In trying to help the poor, the despised, the forsaken, do not work
for them mounted on the stilts of your dignity and superiority, for in
this way you will accomplish nothing. Become truly converted, and
learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. We must set the Lord
always before us. As servants of Christ keep saying, lest you forget it,
“I am bought with a price.”
God calls not only for your benevolence but for your cheerful
countenance, your hopeful words, the grasp of your hand. As you
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visit the Lord’s afflicted ones you will find some from whom hope has
departed; bring back the sunshine to them. There are those who need
the bread of life; read to them from the Word of God. Upon others
there is a soul sickness that no earthly balm can reach or physician
heal; pray for these, and bring them to Jesus.
On special occasions some indulge in sentimental feelings which
lead to impulsive movements. They may think that in this way they
are doing great service for Christ, but they are not. Their zeal soon
dies, and then Christ’s service is neglected. It is not fitful service that
God accepts; it is not by emotional spasms of activity that we can do
good to our fellow men. Spasmodic efforts to do good often result in
more injury than benefit.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:276-277
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Give the Right Kind of Help—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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The proverb, “The world owes me a living,” has in it the essence
of falsehood, fraud, and robbery. The world owes no man a living
who is able to work and gain a living for himself. But if one comes to