OUR DUTY IN MINISTERING TO THE POOR PART 2

Our Duty in Ministering to the Poor (Part 2 of 2)

It is not wise to give indiscriminately to everyone who may solicit our aid; for we may thus encourage idleness, intemperance, and extravagance. But if one comes to your door and says he is hungry, do not turn him away empty. Give him something to eat, of such things as you have. You know not his circumstances, and it may be that his poverty is the result of misfortune.

But among all whose needs demand our interest, the widow and the fatherless have the strongest claims upon our tender sympathy and care. "Pure religion and undefiled before Yahuwah and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

The father who has died in the faith, resting upon the eternal promise of Yahuwah, left his loved ones in full trust that the Master would care for them. And how does the Master provide for these bereaved ones? He does not work a miracle in sending manna from heaven, he does not send ravens to bring them food; but he works a miracle upon human hearts, he expels selfishness from the soul, he unseals the fountain of benevolence. He tests the love of his professed followers by committing to their tender mercies the afflicted and bereaved ones, the poor and the orphan. These are in a special sense the little ones whom Yahushua looks upon, whom it is an offense to him to neglect. Those who do neglect them are neglecting Yahushua in the person of his afflicted ones. Every kind act done to them in the name of Yahushua, is accepted by him as if done to himself, for he identifies his interest with that of suffering humanity, and he has intrusted to his church the grand work of ministering to Yahushua by helping and blessing the needy and suffering. On all who shall minister to them with willing hearts, the blessing of the Master will rest.

Until death shall be swallowed up in victory, there will be orphans to be cared for, who will suffer in more ways than one if the tender compassion and loving-kindness of our church-members are not exercised in their behalf. The Master bids us, "Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house" (Isaiah 58:7). Christianity must supply fathers and mothers for these homeless ones. The compassion for the widow and the orphan manifested in prayers and deeds, will come up in remembrance before Yahuwah, to be rewarded by and by.

There is a wide field before all who will work for the Master in caring for these friendless children and youth, placing them in a position favorable for the formation of a right character, that they may become children of Yahuwah. There are unpromising children that need to be tenderly sought for; many that would otherwise grow up in ignorance, and drift into associations that lead to vice and crime, may be brought into favorable surroundings, and under Yahushua-like, tender watchcare may be saved to Yahushua.

The children and youth are Yahuwah's property; the Master formed their bodies and gave them the breath of life, and Yahushua died for them, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Are you who profess to be children of Yahuwah acting your part to teach these, who so much need to be patiently instructed, how to come to the Saviour? Are you overcoming your indolence and slothfulness, and acting your part as laborers together with Yahuwah, faithful servants of Yahushua? Are these unformed, perhaps ill-balanced minds cared for with that love which Yahushua has manifested for us? The souls of children and youth are in deadly peril if left to themselves. They need patience, love, tender, Yahushua-like care. This will break every barrier down.

Were there no revelation to point out our duty, the very sight of our eyes, and what we know of the inevitable working of cause and effect, should rouse us to rescue these unfortunate ones. If men would bring into this work the same energy and tact and skill that they employ in the common business relations of life, and while seeking wisdom from Yahuwah would earnestly study how to mold these undisciplined minds, many souls might be rescued from the multitudes that are ready to perish.

If parents would feel the solicitude for the salvation of their own children that they should have, if they would bear them in their prayers to the throne of grace, and then live out their prayers, knowing that Yahuwah is co-operating with them, they might become successful workers for children outside of their own family, and especially for those who have not parental counsel and guidance. The Master calls on every member of the church to do your duty to these orphans. Do not, however, work for them merely from the standpoint of duty, but because you love them, and Yahushua died to save them. Yahushua has purchased these souls that need your care, and he expects you to love them as he has loved you in your sins and waywardness.

Love is the agency through which Yahuwah works to draw the heart to him. It is the power by which he expels sin from the soul. In every department of life this principle must be the controlling power. In every enterprise of mercy this alone can give efficiency; the finite must unite with the infinite; and "Yahuwah is love" (1 John 4:8).

This work for others will require effort and self-denial and sacrifice; but what is the little sacrifice that we can make, in comparison with Yahuwah's great gift of his only begotten Son? Yahuwah has granted us the privilege of becoming laborers together with him. In his plan there is a positive necessity for good works, for his plan made for the uplifting of man is dependent upon the co-operation of his human agents.

Yahuwah imparts his blessing to us, that we may give to others. And as long as we yield ourselves as the channels through which his love can flow, he will keep the channels supplied. When you ask Yahuwah for your daily bread, he looks right into your heart to see if you will impart the same to others, more needy than yourself. When you pray, "Yahuwah be merciful to me a sinner," (Luke 18:13) he watches to see if you will manifest compassion to those with whom you associate. This is the evidence of our connection with Yahuwah,--that we are merciful even as our Father who is in heaven is merciful. If we are his, we shall do with a cheerful heart just what he tells us to do, however inconvenient, however contrary it may be to our own feelings.

Yahuwah is always giving; and upon whom are his gifts bestowed? Upon those who are faultless in character? He "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). Notwithstanding the sinfulness of humanity, notwithstanding we so often grieve the heart of Yahushua, when we ask his forgiveness, he does not turn us away, although we are most undeserving. It pleases and honors Yahuwah when we expect great things at his hand. He has promised us great blessings through our Saviour, and we cannot dishonor his name more than to doubt his love and his willingness to bless us.

How are the world to know Yahuwah and Yahushua whom he hath sent?-- Through his word and through his human agents; we are to be his representatives. Through us the world will form their opinion of Yahuwah and of the religion of Yahushua. Therefore Yahushua said, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John 15:8). "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). When men see, they glorify Yahuwah. Great dishonor is brought upon the cause of Yahuwah because those who profess Yahushua do not possess his Holy Spirit, but walk in their own ways. What a terrible misrepresentation of Yahuwah, his ways, his character, are the selfishness of life and hardness of heart of his professed followers. A profession of piety is not enough; if religion is not brought into practical service, and does not produce good works, it is valueless. If we do not live to bless others, we are unfaithful stewards, and we shall never receive the heavenly benediction, "Well done" (Matthew 25:23). But Yahuwah will have a peculiar people, of whom it is written, that Yahushua is not ashamed to call them brethren. They bear his likeness. They are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

It is in doing the works of Yahushua, ministering as he did to the suffering and afflicted, that we are to develop Yahushua-like character. It is for our good that Yahuwah has called us to practice self-denial for Yahushua's sake, to bear the cross, to labor and sacrifice in seeking to save that which is lost. This is the Master's process of refining, purging away the baser material, that the precious traits of character which were in Yahushua, may appear in the believer. All dross must be cleansed from the soul, through the sanctification of the truth. If good works cost us no sacrifice, then they would not be disciplinary. There are obligations which bring us into conflict with natural feelings and propensities, and in fulfilling these obligations, we gain victory over every objectionable feature of our character. The warfare goes on, and thus we grow in grace. Thus our character is developed in the likeness of Yahushua, and we are prepared for a place among the blessed in the kingdom of Yahuwah.

Through the grace of Yahushua our efforts to bless others are not only the means of our growth in grace, but they will enhance our future, eternal happiness. To those who have been co-workers with Yahushua it will be said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Master" (Matthew 25:23). Although we have no merit in ourselves, in the great goodness and love of Yahuwah we are rewarded as if the merit were our own. When we have done all the good we can possibly do, we are still unprofitable servants. We have done only what was our duty. What we have accomplished has been wrought solely through the grace of Yahushua, and no reward is due to us from Yahuwah on the ground of our merit. But through the merit of our Saviour, every promise that Yahuwah has made will be fulfilled, and every man will be rewarded according to his deeds. The precious rewards of the future will be proportioned to the work of faith and labor of love in the present life. "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). We should be most grateful that now in probationary time through the infinite mercy of Yahuwah, we are permitted to sow the seed for our future harvest. We should carefully consider what the harvest will be. Whether the crown of our eternal rejoicing shall be bright or dim depends upon our own course of action. We may make our calling and election sure, and may come into possession of the rich inheritance, or we may defraud ourselves of the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

"Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:2-3).

By: Ellen White
Review and Herald
June 27, 1893