IN TIME OF NEED by Judson A. Baker

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 11, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 50.

IN TIME OF NEED.

By Judson A. Baker

WHEN men are prospered and have this world’s goods, others will speak well of them. “Men will praise thee when thou ‘doest well to thyself.’” Or, as some express it, “Be good ‘to yourself.’” This is flattery or a species of selfishness. But when one is actually needy, then is made manifest who are true friends and who are not. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” The wise man said, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in ‘the power of thine hand to do it.’” Prov. 3:27.

The Lord has pronounced special blessings upon all who have compassion on those in trouble. David says, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. . . . ‘The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; Thou wilt ‘make all his bed in his sickness.’” Ps. 41:1–3. Are not these precious promises? and can we not trust the Lord to do just what He says?

Job, the patient man, in making his defense before his three friends, said, “I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I ‘was a father to the poor; and the cause which I knew not I searched ‘out.’” Job 29:15, 16.

Whenever any one is in trouble, it is our duty to find out the cause, and if the case is worthy, we should do all on our part to relieve the distress. It may not always be best to give money or its equivalent. We may not be able to give money. It may be only a cup of cold water that we can give; but with it we can give love and sympathy, and we can point to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of ‘the world.’” When all earthly friends fail, there is still “a Friend that ‘sticketh closer than a brother.’” This is the same Friend who says, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that ‘fear Him.’”

Then can not we imitate Him “who went about doing good,” “neither was guile found in His mouth”?

Auroraville, Wis. JUDSON A. BAKER.