General Principles Governing Worker Remuneration
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When a man loves God supremely, and his neighbor as himself,
he will not stop to inquire whether that which he can do is bringing
in much or little. He will do the work, and accept the wages offered.
He will not set the example of refusing a job because he cannot count
upon as large wages as he thinks he should have.
The Lord judges a man’s character by the principles on which he
acts in dealing with his fellow men. If in common business transactions
his principles are defective, the same will be brought into his spiritual
service for God. The threads are woven into his whole religious life.
If you have too much dignity to work for yourself for small wages,
then work for the Master; give the proceeds into the Lord’s treasury.
Make an offering of gratitude to God for sparing your life. But do not
on any account be idle.—
Manuscript 156, 1897
.
Pay to Be According to Labor
The ways of the Lord are just and equal. The workers in the school
should receive according to the hours they give to the school in honest,
hard labor. Injustice must not be done to any worker. If one man or
woman gives to the school full time, he is to receive from the school
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according to the time which the school receives from him. If one
gives mind, toil, and strength in bearing the burdens, he is to receive
according to the value he gives to the school. Justice and truth are
to be maintained, not only for the present and future standing of the
school, but for our own individual benefit in righteousness. The Lord
will not be a party to the least injustice.—
Manuscript 69, 1898
.
Privilege of Working Versus Wages
Those who think more of their wages than of the privilege of
being honored as a servant of the Lord, who take up their work in a
self-congratulatory spirit because they are to receive wages, do not
bring self-denial and self-sacrifice into their work. The last men hired
believed the word of the householder, “Whatsoever is right, that shall
ye receive” (
Matthew 20:7
). They knew that they would receive all
that they deserved, and they were placed first because they brought
faith into their work. If those who had labored during the whole day