Sunday
September 13
1. IDENTIFYING OURSELVES WITH CHRIST
a. Describe one of the best ways to identify ourselves with Christ. Matthew 25:35–40.
“Jesus had told His disciples that they were to be hated of all men, to be persecuted and afflicted. Many would be driven from their homes, and brought to poverty. Many would be in distress through disease and privation. Many would be cast into prison. To all who forsook friends or home for His sake He had promised in this life a hundredfold. Now He assured a special blessing to all who should minister to their brethren. In all who suffer for My name, said Jesus, you are to recognize Me. As you would minister to Me, so you are to minister to them. This is the evidence that you are My disciples.”—Ibid., pp. 637, 638.
b. What is pure and undefiled religion? James 1:27.
Monday
September 14
2. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD SHINING IN OBSCURITY
a. What was Christ’s main occupation while He was in the world? Acts 10:38.
b. How does Christ want to let His light shine through us? Isaiah 58:7, 8, 10; Galatians 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:15.
“Faithful work is more acceptable to God than the most zealous and thought-to-be holiest worship. It is working together with Christ that is true worship. Prayers, exhortation, and talk are cheap fruits, which are frequently tied on; but fruits that are manifested in good works, in caring for the needy, the fatherless, and widows, are genuine fruits, and grow naturally upon a good tree.
“Pure religion and undefiled before the Father is this: ‘To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world’ (James 1:27). Good deeds are the fruit that Christ requires us to bear: kind words, deeds of benevolence, of tender regard for the poor, the needy, the afflicted. When hearts sympathize with hearts burdened with discouragement and grief, when the hand dispenses to the needy, when the naked are clothed, the stranger made welcome to a seat in your parlor and a place in your heart, angels are coming very near, and an answering strain is responded to in heaven. Every act of justice, mercy, and benevolence makes melody in heaven. The Father from His throne beholds those who do these acts of mercy, and numbers them with His most precious treasures. ‘And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels’ (Malachi 3:17). Every merciful act to the needy, the suffering, is regarded as though done to Jesus. When you succor the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 24, 25.
c. How will the Lord bless those who practice pure and undefiled religion? Isaiah 58:11.
Tuesday
September 15
3. IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES TO BE RECOGNIZED
a. How should we admonish those who loaf away their time? 2 Thessalonians 3:10–15.
“The word of God declares that if a man will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10.) The Lord does not require the hard-working man to support others in idleness. With many there is a waste of time, a lack of effort, which brings to poverty and want. If these faults are not corrected by those who indulge them, all that might be done in their behalf would be like putting treasure into a bag with holes. Yet there is an unavoidable poverty, and we are to manifest tenderness and compassion toward those who are unfortunate.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 247.
“No person, whether rich or poor, can glorify God by a life of indolence. All the capital that many poor men have is time and physical strength, and this is frequently wasted in love of ease and in careless indolence so that they have nothing to bring to their Lord in tithes and in offerings. If Christian men lack wisdom to labor to the best account and to make a judicious appropriation of their physical and mental powers, they should have meekness and lowliness of mind to receive advice and counsel of their brethren, that their better judgment may supply their own deficiencies. Many poor men who are now content to do nothing for the good of their fellowmen and for the advancement of the cause of God might do much if they would. They are as accountable to God for their capital of physical strength as is the rich man for his capital of money.”—Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 400.
b. While some need admonition, others actually need help. Explain the difference between pretenders and helpless sufferers. 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 15; Hebrews 13:1–3.
“We may err in making gifts to the poor which are not a blessing to them, leading them to feel that they need not exert themselves and practice economy, for others will not permit them to suffer. We should not give countenance to indolence, or encourage habits of self-gratification by affording means for indulgence. While the worthy poor are not to be neglected, all should be taught, so far as possible, to help themselves.”—Historical Sketches, p. 293.
Wednesday
September 16
4. OUR GREAT NEED: PRACTICAL RELIGION
a. What does the Bible say about those who are more interested in theoretical knowledge than in practical religion? James 2:14–17; 1 John 3:17, 18.
b. How does the Lord regard zealous formalism in the absence of practical religion? Isaiah 58:2, 3, 5.
“[Isaiah 58:1–4 quoted.] . . . The house of Jacob, at the time this warning was given to Isaiah, appeared to be a very zealous people, seeking God daily, and delighting to know His ways; but in reality they were filled with presumptuous self-confidence. They were not walking in the truth. Goodness, mercy, and love were not practiced. While presenting an appearance of sorrow for their sins, they were cherishing pride and avarice. At the very time when they were showing such outward humiliation, they would exact hard labor from those under them or in their employ. They placed a high estimate on all the good that they had done, but a very low estimate on the services of others. They despised and oppressed the poor. And their fasting only gave them a higher opinion of their own goodness.
“There are sins of this same character among us today, and they bring the rebuke of God upon His church. Wherever such sins are found, seasons of fasting and prayer are indeed necessary; but they must be accompanied with sincere repentance and decided reformation.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 4, pp. 1149, 1150.
c. What challenge and encouragement comes both to many struggling under poverty and those who seek to minister to them in the best way possible? Psalm 112:5–9.
“There are multitudes of poor families for whom no better missionary work could be done than to assist them in settling on the land and in learning how to make it yield them a livelihood.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 192.
“As you open your door to Christ’s needy and suffering ones, you are welcoming unseen angels. You invite the companionship of heavenly beings. They bring a sacred atmosphere of joy and peace. They come with praises upon their lips, and an answering strain is heard in heaven. Every deed of mercy makes music there. The Father from His throne numbers the unselfish workers among His most precious treasures.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 639.
Thursday
September 17
5. CHRIST IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THE SUFFERERS
a. How does Christ identify Himself with His suffering people? What will He say to those who have neglected them? Matthew 25:41–45.
“To the rich, God has given wealth that they may relieve and comfort His suffering children; but too often they are indifferent to the wants of others. They feel themselves superior to their poor brethren. They do not put themselves in the poor man’s place. They do not understand the temptations and struggles of the poor, and mercy dies out of their hearts.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 639.
b. What experience, narrated by Sister E. G. White, should arouse our responsibility?
“I am acquainted with persons who make a high profession, whose hearts are so encased in self-love and selfishness that they cannot appreciate what I am writing [in helping the needy poor, the orphan and the fatherless]. They have all their lives thought and lived only for self. To make a sacrifice to do others good, to disadvantage themselves to advantage others, is out of the question with them. They have not the least idea that God requires this of them. Self is their idol.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 26.
c. What will Christ say to those who have opened their hearts and hands to Him in the person of the poor and the suffering? Matthew 25:34.
Friday
September 18
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. What blessing did Christ assure to all who should minister to their brethren in need?
b. What blessings are promised them in Isaiah 58:11?
c. Who needs admonition? And who actually needs help?
d. What reformation is needed in the welfare ministry of those who are preparing for the second coming of Christ?
e. In the great judgment day, Christ refers to the work that we have done or have neglected to do for Him. Explain.