Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

day, and reckless presumption and the absence of virtue mark the course of
society generally. The standard of the world is in no case to be the standard
of those who love and fear God. He requires those who follow him to be
separate from sin and sinners. The reason why those who profess his name
are not more precious in his sight is because the pure gold of their character
has been corrupted by association with the world, and they have not genuine
faith or a genuine religion.
The instruction given to ancient Israel was to the same effect as that
given by Christ to his disciples upon the mount. Both were intended to
counteract selfishness and encourage benevolence. God ever remembers the
poor, and gives directions to his people to remember them. "And when ye
reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy
field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest." Again he says,
"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that
is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."
Frequently the wages of the working men and women are thoughtlessly
and cruelly withheld from them, and they are made to suffer for the little
pittance they have earned by hard labor. This injustice is practiced on a large
scale. Those who have had their labor frequently live in extravagance, that
which they use intemperately being nearly sufficient to support one or two
poor families. When such force the laborer to wait for his hard-earned pay,
they come under the censure of God.
While we should show sympathy and love for the deserving poor, we are
not to favor the unworthy poor because they are poor, neither are we "to
honor the person of the mighty" simply because they are mighty. How much
of this is done. If a man is possessed of wealth, great respect, applause, and
honor are given him because of his position, while he may be corrupt at
heart, and his life unworthy of imitation. Position or wealth does not make
the man; but clean hands and a pure heart God will accept.
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