p. 69 | POVERTY | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 24, 1869

POVERTY.

This is by no means always a necessary condition. In many cases it exists where there is not the slightest good reason to justify it. There are many cases of honorable poverty. Lazarus at the rich man's gate was one of these. But there are many cases of poverty that are only a shame to those who are thus destitute and inefficient. Some men are in circumstances of distress, because of their ungovernable dispositions to engage in speculation. When a few dollars are earned, they must invest it in some kind of bargain out of which they are to receive great gains. Yet every time the investment is a source of serious loss to themselves, of real distress to their families. In spite of the entreaties of their families, and counsel and reproof of their brethren, they follow this course of wastefulness year after year. Their condition is pitiable. Debts press them, and actual want distresses their families. Probably there is no help for them. If they would place themselves under the care of some good and capable Christian man, and follow his advice, they might, by simple industry and strict economy, be soon surrounded by plenty. But such is their self-sufficiency that they will never do this.