Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 185

"He that is not with Me is _against_ Me: and he that gathereth not with Me _scattereth_." Luke 11:23.

20. For what does the Lord tell us to pray?

"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: _pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest_." Luke 10:2.

21. How are we cautioned against delaying the work?

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35.

22. What promise is made to those who sow the gospel seed?

"They that sow in tears _shall reap in joy_. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, _shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him_." Ps. 126:5, 6.

23. What promise is made to soul-winners?

"He that winneth souls is _wise_." Prov. 11:30. "And they that be wise [margin, teachers] shall _s.h.i.+ne as the brightness of the firmament_; and they that turn many to righteousness _as the stars forever and ever_."

Dan. 12:3.

The Poor, And Our Duty Toward Them

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

On The Way To The Inn. "He ... bound up his wounds, ... and set him on his own beast." Luke 10:33, 34.

1. What is G.o.d's att.i.tude toward the poor?

"He shall _deliver_ the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." Ps. 72:12.

2. For what purpose did Christ say G.o.d had anointed Him?

"He hath anointed Me _to preach the gospel to the poor_." Luke 4:18.

3. When did He say we could minister to the poor?

"_Whensoever ye will_ ye may do them good." Mark 14:7.

4. What did Paul say regarding our duty to the poor?

"I have showed you all things, how that so laboring _ye ought to support the weak_, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, _It is more blessed to give than to receive_." Acts 20:35.

5. What promises are made to those who consider the poor?

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languis.h.i.+ng: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." Ps. 41:1-3.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Lazarus At The Rich Man's Gate. "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." Prov. 21:13.

6. How does the Lord regard kindness shown to the poor?

"He that hath pity upon the poor _lendeth unto the Lord_; and that which he hath given _will He pay him again_." Prov. 19:17. "For _G.o.d is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love_, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Heb. 6:10.

7. What fate awaits those who turn a deaf ear to the poor?

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, _he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard_." Prov. 21:13.

8. What cla.s.ses are we especially enjoined to help?

"Learn to do well; seek judgment, _relieve the oppressed_, _judge the fatherless_, _plead for the widow_." Isa. 1:17.

9. What is pure and undefiled religion declared to be?

"Pure religion and undefiled before G.o.d and the Father is this, _To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction_, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27.

10. What kind of fast is most acceptable to G.o.d?

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen?... 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_?" Isa. 58:6, 7.

11. What is promised those who do this work?

"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry and He shall say, Here I am.... And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

Verses 9-11.

12. How did the patriarch Job treat the poor?

"I was a _father_ to the poor: and _the cause which I knew not I searched out_." Job 29:16.

13. What did Christ tell the rich young man to do?

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, _go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor_, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me." Matt. 19:21.

NOTE.-From Matt. 25:31-45 we learn that Christ identifies Himself with needy, suffering humanity; and that any neglect shown them He regards as done unto Himself.

Christian Help Work

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Samaritan At The Inn. "He ... brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Luke 10:33, 34.