Help and Encouragement for Widows
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And yet, in spite of the warnings that God has given, there are
those who are not afraid to do injustice to the widow and the fatherless.
The word of the Lord has come to them, but they would not change
their course in order to help the needy. They turned their ears away
from the plea of the fatherless. The tears and prayers of the widow
were nothing to them.—
Manuscript 117, 1903
.
Visiting the Widow—Visiting the widow and the fatherless which
the apostle enjoined is to have a Christian, sanctified sympathy with
them in their affliction. They are to sacredly guard their interests, to
work for them, to put themselves to inconvenience to do them a favor.
They are to give them Christlike counsel; they are to unite with them
in prayer and to ever bear in mind that Jesus Christ is present in all
these visits, and that a faithful record is kept of the object and the work
accomplished. Christians will give evidence that they are converted
men and women. They will show that they are Bible readers, Bible
believers, and they obey every injunction of the Word of God. They
will not seek to create sympathy for themselves by speaking in disfavor
of wife or husband. They will not become self-centered, but they will
have a heart to do others good and to be a blessing to humanity, for this
is Christlike. They will walk circumspectly and reveal the character of
Christ. They will in all their dealings with widows and the fatherless
do just as they would wish others to do by wife and children were they
to leave them husbandless and fatherless.
The facts should be borne in mind by all who claim to be children
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of God, that there is a Watcher in every business transaction who
records every act and deed of the transactor and that this record will
stand just as it is written until the great day when every man shall
receive according as his works have been, unless their wrongs shall
have been repented of and blotted out. Any injustice done to saint or
sinner will then be rewarded accordingly. Christ identifies His interest
in all the afflictions of his people. God will avenge those who shall
treat the widow or the fatherless with oppression, or who shall rob
them in any way.—
Letter 36, 1888
.
No Decrease in Responsibility—Every poor, tried soul needs
light, needs tender, sympathizing, hopeful words. Every widow needs
the comfort of helpful and encouraging words that others can bestow....
There is a great work to be done in our world, and as we approach
the close of earth’s history, it does not lessen the least degree; but when