"The Least of These My Brethren"

[B/W Photodude]

Having been involved in Adventist Community Services for some time and other
charitable types of service, I have seen some things that kinda of make you sad for
the way people treat less fortunate people. Especially when you ponder the chapter
in the Desire of Ages regarding those less fortunate than oneself.

“The Least of These My Brethren”

When you doled out the pittance of bread to the starving poor, when you
gave those flimsy garments to shield them from the biting frost, did you
remember that you were giving to the Lord of glory? All the days of your
life I was near you in the person of these afflicted ones, but you did
not seek Me. You would not enter into fellowship with Me. I know you
not.

Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes of
Christ’s life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon the lake
beside which He loved to teach, and the hills and valleys on which His
eyes so often rested. But we need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum, or
to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His
footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded
alleys of the great city, and in every place where there are human
hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we
shall walk in His steps.

However, the ill treatment can go both ways and even the Apostle Paul in 2 Thess.
3:10 wrote "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would
not work, neither should he eat." On church outings to feed the homeless, street
people would complain they couldn't eat anymore because there were so many
organization out feeding the homeless. Newspaper articles would wonder if we were
enabling people to live the homeless life by feeding them so much. However, I do
know that many homeless are mentally unable to function in society. And that is not
really what I am most concerned about.

I find it amazing the stuff people will donate to charitable organizations for sale
or to give away for needy people. I don't even want to get started on Goodwill where
the CEO makes in excess of a million dollars a years to run a charitable
organization. And locally, many people cannot even afford to buy clothing at
Goodwill prices. The clerks at the Good will store told me they have people coming
in all the time who cannot even afford to buy much clothing in their store.

At our community center, it is amazing the garbage people think someone else will
really want or even use. I throw away a lot of stuff that covered in mold and who,
even poor, would put that stuff (shoes) on their children's feet. We had one family
donate stuff which came in filthy, although usable, and sad fact of the situation
was, they have a pair of expensive washer-drier machines! One bag of clothing was
saturated with cat urine. It was the ultimate "piss on you" to the poor. (Sorry, but
that word is in my Bible)

So, I no longer feel I am doing anyone any favors when I donate clothing. I fear for
those who really believe they have done something good for someone after that kind
of behavior in the judgement day.

Often times we get a lot of clothing donated that has original tags on the item. A
lot of boredom shopping seems to be going on with people buying just to feel good
and when they get home the item goes in the closet until donated. I believe this is
one fulfilment of the prophecy that in the last days there would be surfeiting.

[Belle]

I used to do sewing jobs for the Calgary Adventist Church. They would bring me clothes that had all the buttons off and the zippers taken out. It was hard to believe people would do that to clothes before giving them away. The Rutland Adventist Church, in Kelowna, BC, Canada, has a wonderful outreach for those in need. The clothes are very good. They give clothes, food and furniture away. If there are clothes with tags on them, it could be someone saw a fantastic sale and bought them especially for the poor. They also serve Sunday morning breakfast downtown. I've been very impressed at the work done here.