"Your good wishes we will thank you for, but the poor cannot keep comfortable on good wishes alone. They must have tangible proofs of your kindness in food and clothing. God does not mean that any of His followers should beg for bread. He has given you an abundance that you may supply those of their necessities which by industry and economy they are not able to supply. Do not wait for them to call your attention to their needs. Act as did Job. The thing that he knew not he searched out. Go on an inspecting tour and learn what is needed and how it can be best supplied. 5T 151.1"
"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."
EGW directly references Job 29:16 and applies it to the responsibility of Christians to seek out and address the needs of the poor.
"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of caring for the poor and not hardening one's heart, as outlined in Deuteronomy 15:7-8. It amplifies the idea by suggesting proactive searching for needs, similar to Job's example.