Our Offering for the Poor
By W. T. Knox
SABBATH, April 1, is the time of the denomination’s next general offering. The object of this donation is to assist the poor among us, and especially the orphans and aged, an object that will appeal to all. The poor and helpless were ever the subjects of our Saviour’s tender solicitation during his earthly ministry. In fact, it is the necessity of man that is the strongest appeal we can present to God. Not only by Christ’s example, but by all the teachings of his Word, are we exhorted to be solicitous for the welfare of those who are unfortunate. In the economy of the Old Testament times, ample provision was made to meet this ever-present condition. Its neglect, and any form of oppression of the poor, called forth rebuke from the Lord. This is shown in Isa. 1:16, 17, where, after setting forth the exceedingly sinful condition of his people, he exhorts: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Other forms of service, be they ever so faithful, are not fully acceptable to13the Lord if tender compassion and helpfulness to the needy are lacking. The situation is placed before us very graphically by Isaiah in the fifty-eighth chapter:— “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. “Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Doubtless the most acceptable form of this class of service is where the individual engages in it personally, making his own home to the limit of his ability the refuge for those in need; yet it is true, and always will be, that many will not be able to fulfill this requirement in this personal way. Where this is so, we have in this general plan an opportunity of doing, through others, that which we would be glad to do personally if conditions were different. Evidently, the revelation in man of the character and righteousness of God is impossible if his compassionate disposition in this particular is lacking. In Pentecostal days, great care was exercised that the needy of all classes should be properly provided for. With all the many cares and great burdens resting upon Paul in carrying the gospel to the world, with the severe and continual persecutions that attended him, he still found time and occasion to set before the church the needs of the poor, and to receive from all the Christian world, contributions for the poor saints. The donations called for on April 1 are designed for the relief of the needy in the conferences where the donations are made, and are planned to relieve those cases that can not well be attended to otherwise. The funds will therefore be distributed, in harmony with the general plan of the denomination, by the officers of the local and union conferences where they are raised. A liberal offering should be made, in order that the conferences may be able properly to meet their responsibilities in this particular. “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.”