Care of Orphans
165
care, let the members of the church provide homes for them. He who
made us ordained that we should be associated in families, and the
child nature will develop best in the loving atmosphere of a Christian
home.
Many who have no children of their own could do a good work in
caring for the children of others. Instead of giving attention to pets,
lavishing affection upon dumb animals, let them give their attention
to little children, whose characters they may fashion after the divine
similitude. Place your love upon the homeless members of the human
family. See how many of these children you can bring up in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord. Many would thus be greatly benefited
themselves.—
The Ministry of Healing, 203, 204
.
Why the Responsibility Belongs Primarily to the Church—
[229]
God has placed in our care the poor and the suffering, and these are to
be cared for as Christ cared for them. The Lord would have this work
done in the different churches, rather than that these unfortunate ones
should depend so largely upon institutions; for this will take out of the
hands of the churches the very work God has appointed them to do.
When fathers and mothers die and leave their children unprovided
for, the orphans should be cared for by the church. Open your hearts,
you that have the love of God, and take them into your homes.—
Manuscript 105, 1899
.
Orphans’ Homes—When all is done that can be done in providing
for orphans in our own homes, there will still be many needy ones in
the world who should be cared for. They may be ragged, uncouth, and
seemingly in every way unattractive; but they are bought with a price,
and are just as precious in the sight of God as are our own little ones.
They are God’s property, for whom Christians are responsible. Their
souls, God says, “will I require at thine hand.”
To care for these needy ones is a good work; yet in this age of
the world the Lord does not give us as a people directions to establish
large and expensive institutions for this purpose. If, however, there are
among us individuals who feel called of God to establish institutions
for the care of orphan children, let them follow out their convictions
of duty. But in caring for the world’s poor, they should appeal to the
world for support. They are not to draw upon the people to whom the
Lord has given the most important work ever given to men, the work
of bringing the last message of mercy before all nations, kindreds,