Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

kind and courteous, is so conducting himself that God cannot co-operate with
him in the development of character. The culture of the mind and heart is
more easily accomplished when we feel such tender sympathy for others that
we bestow our benefits and privileges to relieve their necessities. Getting and
holding all that we can for ourselves tends to poverty of soul. But all the
attributes of Christ await the reception of those who will do the very work
that God has appointed them to do, working in Christ's lines.
The Saviour ignores both rank and caste, worldly honor and riches. It is
character and devotedness of purpose that are of high value with Him. He
does not take sides with the strong and worldly favored. He, the Son of the
living God, stoops to uplift the fallen. By pledges and words of assurance He
seeks to win to Himself the lost, perishing soul. Angels of God are watching
to see who of His followers will exercise tender pity and sympathy. They are
watching to see who of God's people will manifest the love of Jesus.
God calls not only for your benevolence, but for your cheerful
countenance, your hopeful words, the grasp of your hand. As you 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.
Our Duty to the Poor in the Church
There are two classes of poor whom we have always within our borders-
-those who ruin themselves by their own independent course of action and
continue in their transgression, and those who for the truth's sake have been
brought into straitened circumstances. We are to love our neighbor as
ourselves, and then toward both these classes we shall do the right thing
under the guidance and counsel of sound wisdom.
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