Our Duty to the Unfortunate
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regard for a brother in the faith who is less fortunate and successful
than themselves....
If you knew the circumstances of this brother, and did not make
earnest efforts to relieve him, and change his oppression to freedom,
you are not working the works of Christ, and are guilty before God. I
write plainly, for, from the light given me of God, there is a class of
work that is neglected.
There may be great interest taken in the wholesale business of
feeding the wretched class who are in poverty. All this I have no
objection to, but it is a misdirected zeal if we pass by the cases of
these who are of the household of faith and let their cry of distress
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come up to God because of suffering which we might alleviate, and in
thus doing represent Jesus Christ in sympathy and love. The Lord has
a controversy with us for this neglect. He cannot say to any man or
woman, “Well done,” unless they have done well in representing the
attributes of Christ—goodness, compassion, and love—to their fellow
men.—
Manuscript 34, 1894
.
Provide Homes for Homeless—Years ago I was shown that God’s
people would be tested upon this point of making homes for the home-
less; that there would be many without homes in consequence of their
believing the truth. Opposition and persecution would deprive believ-
ers of their homes, and it was the duty of those who had homes to open
a wide door to those who had not. I have been shown more recently
that God would specially test His professed people in reference to this
matter.
Christ for our sakes became poor that we through His poverty
might be made rich. He made a sacrifice that He might provide a home
for pilgrims and strangers in the world seeking for a better country,
even an heavenly. Shall those who are subjects of His grace, who are
expecting to be heirs of immortality, refuse, or even feel reluctant, to
share their homes with the homeless and needy? Shall we, who are
disciples of Jesus, refuse strangers an entrance to our doors because
they can claim no acquaintance with the inmates?
Has the injunction of the apostle no force in this age: “Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares”? ...
Our heavenly Father lays blessings disguised in our pathway, but
some will not touch these for fear they will detract from their enjoy-
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