"Poor Sister More! She sleeps, but we did what we could. When we were at Battle Creek, the last of August, we received the first of the two letters I have given, but we had no money to send her. My husband sent to Wisconsin and Iowa for means, and received seventy dollars to bear our expenses to those western convocations, held last September. We hoped to have means to send to her immediately on our return from the West, to pay her expenses to our new home in Montcalm County. 1T 675.1"
"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."
Both passages deal with helping those in need. The EGW passage describes efforts to assist Sister More, while Matthew 25:40 emphasizes the importance of helping the 'least of these.' The connection is thematic, focusing on acts of service and compassion.
"The liberal friends West had given us the needed means; but when we decided to accompany Brother Andrews to Maine, the matter was deferred until we should return. We did not expect to be in the East more than four weeks, which would have given ample time to send for Sister More after our return, and to get her to our house before navigation should close. And when we decided to remain in the East several weeks longer than we first designed, we lost no time in addressing several brethren in this vicinity, recommending that they send for Sister More and give her a home till we should return. I say: We did what we could. 1T 675.2"
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
The EGW passage illustrates the principle of doing good as opportunities arise, particularly to those within the faith community, mirroring the sentiment expressed in Galatians 6:10. The phrase 'We did what we could' directly reflects the idea of seizing opportunities to do good.
"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."
Both passages relate to acts of service and kindness towards others. The EGW passage describes efforts to help Sister More, while Matthew 25:40 highlights the importance of helping the needy, framing it as service to Christ. The connection lies in the shared theme of caring for others.
"Review . Our brethren at Battle Creek had seen this noble woman, and some of them knew more or less of her wishes and wants. We had no money with which to help her; they had. We were already overburdened with care and needed those persons in our house who possessed the strength and buoyancy of youth. We needed to be helped, instead of helping others. But most of our brethren in Battle Creek are so situated that Sister More would not have been the least care and burden. They have time, strength, and comparative freedom from care. 1T 675.3"
"But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
The EGW passage aligns strongly with 1 John 3:17, as it addresses the scenario of having the means to help someone in need and the moral implications of withholding that help. The passage directly discusses the brethren having the means to help Sister More.
"Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The EGW passage directly discusses the responsibility of believers to help those in need, echoing the principle of bearing one another's burdens as stated in Galatians 6:2.
"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."
The EGW passage implicitly connects helping Sister More with serving Christ, which is the core message of Matthew 25:40. By caring for the vulnerable, the brethren would be caring for Christ himself.