Answering the Cry for Help
By Charles L. Palmer
Bro. Smith: While reading Bro. M. E. Cornell’s report in No. 11, and hearing that people in the West were begging for books to read that they might learn God’s will and be made savingly acquainted with the glorious truths which we as a people profess to have; and having, profess to live out before the world, I was led to inquire, Are we doing all we can to let our light shine and benefit our fellow men? Have we paid our vows to God? Have we got all upon the altar a consuming sacrifice, acceptable with him? I was also led to inquire, How many are there among us who can hear this cry coming from a famishing people, calling upon us who have been blessed with the hearing of the messengers, with books and the Review to read, how many can fold their hands, stop their ears to the cry for help, and deceive themselves by saying, I cannot do anything, times are hard, I must provide for my family, &c. I believe if we look at it right the cry will not be unheeded. This is the light in which it appears to me. If a poor, destitute, hungry, famishing fellow being comes to your or to my door to ask for a morsel of bread, or a bit of meat, could we excuse ourselves? Could we hide our covetousness behind the shallow pretense, I am not able, I have done so much, I must provide for my family first? No, no! We would not dare deny the hungry food; we would sooner (if we are truly children of God) deny ourselves a meal. We would suffer a little hunger first ourselves, that a fellow being might not perish, when it was in our power to relieve him. This my brethren is the view I take of it. I well remember when I first heard the present truth, that I promised God that henceforth I would live to his glory. I believe God requires we should sacrifice for the cause of present truth; not simply give of our abundance; but that we should deny ourselves for Christ’s sake. I know that many apply the denial part only to denying ourselves of sinful pleasures; but this is not what God requires at our hands. He requires of us to suffer for his sake. How many of us have carried or are now carrying self-denial far enough to feel any want ourselves? How many are denying themselves of any of the comforts of life to send light and truth to the starving poor? Brethren, why should we not as well deny ourselves to feed those who are starving for God’s truth, as though they lacked for bread? Let us all examine ourselves, and that candidly, before God, and see if this cry shall pass unheeded. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me.” “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”