As for me, I am poor and needy but the Lord careth for me. Thou art my helper and redeemer : make no long tarrying, O my God.-Psalm xl, 20, 21. As for me when I am poor and in heaviness Thy help, O God shall lift me up.Psalm lxix, 30. For He shall deliver the poor when he crieth the needy also, and him that hath no helper. He shall be favourable to the simple and needy and shall preserve the souls of the poor.-Psalm lxxii, 12, 13. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me for I am poor, and in misery. Preserve Thou my soul, for I am holy my God, save Thy servant that putteth his trust in Thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord for I will call daily upon Thee. Comfort the soul of Thy servant for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.Psalm lxxxvi, 1—5. O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor and my heart is wounded within me.—Psalm cix, 21. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.-St. Matthew iv, 4. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal : But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.-St. Matthew vi, 19, 20. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head. St. Matthew viii, 20. - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.-St. Luke iv, 18. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom the rich man also died, and was buried.-St. Luke xvi, 22. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.I Timothy vi, 7. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?James ii, 5. For suitable Prayer see page 168. Uselessness. SOME people are very energetic by nature, and are always anxious to be doing something useful and helpful. Two things often prevent this-want of opportunity, and illhealth. Sometimes owing to family reasons, or from peculiar circumstances, people cannot undertake work which they would like to do, and they are apt to feel disappointed and disheartened,-to think that they are unable to do anything worth doing for God, that they are useless people. What comfort can one offer to such from the religion of Christ? First, consider that to the eye of man the life of our blessed Lord upon earth did not seem to have accomplished much. Though He wrought such miracles-led a perfect life, and spake as never man spake, there were very few who believed on Him. The mighty effect was seen afterwards. He was hindered and limited in many ways when on earth. Next, God knows all things, therefore He knows what we can do, and what we cannot. He knows to whom He has given the five talents, and to whom the two. We remember that in the parable though the amounts entrusted were different, the rewards were double in each case. "Thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." It may be that we want to do one sort of work, and that God intends us to do another, not so interesting, but in His sight more needful.. Let us beware, then, lest in our disappointment about the work we cannot do, we give up the work we can do, and become unprofitable. Consider your circumstances, see what is possible for you to do in the circle which seems to you so |