***** Chapter 58—Duty to the Poor Inquiries are often made in regard to our duty to the poor who embrace the third message; and we ourselves have long been anxious to know how to manage with discretion the cases of poor families who embrace the Sabbath. But while at Roosevelt, New York, August 3, 1861, I was shown some things in regard to the poor. 1T 272.1 God does not require our brethren to take charge of every poor family that shall embrace this message. If they should do this, the ministers must cease to enter new fields, for the funds would be exhausted. Many are poor from their own lack of diligence and economy; they know not how to use means aright. If they should be helped, it would hurt them. Some will always be poor. If they should have the very best advantages, their cases would not be helped. They have not good calculation and would use all the means they could obtain, were it much or little. Some know nothing of denying self and economizing to keep out of debt and to get …
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
The principle in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, that those who do not work should not eat, is directly applied by EGW in her discussion of the poor. She states that many are poor due to their own lack of diligence and that helping them would hurt them, reflecting the same principle of not enabling idleness.
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
While not a direct parallel, both passages address the duty to the poor. Matthew 25:40 speaks of ministering to the 'least of these,' while EGW discusses the practical considerations of caring for the poor who embrace the third angel's message.