Testimony Treasures, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

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.
On special occasions some indulge in sentimental feelings which lead to
impulsive movements. They may think that in this way they are doing great
service for Christ, but they are not. Their zeal soon dies, and then Christ's
service is neglected. It is not fitful service that God accepts; it is not by
emotional spasms of activity that we can do good to our fellow men.
Spasmodic efforts to do good often result in more injury than benefit.
Methods of helping the needy should be carefully and prayerfully
considered. We are to seek God for wisdom, for He knows better than
shortsighted mortals how to care for the creatures He has made. There are
some who give indiscriminately to everyone who solicits their aid. In this
they err. In trying to help the needy, we should be careful to give them the
right kind of help. There are those who when helped will continue to make
themselves special objects of need. They will be dependent as long as they
see anything on which to depend. By giving undue time and attention to
these, we may encourage idleness, helplessness, extravagance, and
intemperance.
When we give to the poor we should consider: "Am I encouraging
prodigality? Am I helping, or injuring them?" No man who can earn his own
livelihood has a right to depend on others.
The proverb, "The world owes me a living," has in it the essence of
falsehood, fraud, and robbery. The world owes no man a living who is able
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