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Chapter 12
30 (
Ecclesiastes 9:10
;
Luke 10:27
;
Romans 12:11
;
Colos-
sians 3:23
). The Service of Every Power
—The physical powers
are to be brought into service from love to God. The Lord requires
the physical strength, and you can reveal your love for Him by the
right use of your physical powers, doing the very work which needs
to be done. There is no respect of persons with God....
There is science in the humblest kind of work, and if all would
thus regard it, they would see nobility in labor. Heart and soul
are to be put into work of any kind; then there is cheerfulness and
efficiency. In agricultural or mechanical occupations, men may
give evidence to God that they appreciate His gift in the physical
powers, and the mental faculties as well. Let the educated ability
be employed devising improved methods of work. This is just what
the Lord wants. There is honor in any class of work that is essential
to be done. Let the law of God be made the standard of action and
it ennobles and sanctifies all labor. Faithfulness in the discharge of
every duty makes the work noble, and reveals a character that God
can approve.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” God
desires the love that is expressed in heart service, in soul service,
in the service of the physical powers. We are not to be dwarfed
in any kind of service for God. Whatever He has lent us is to be
used intelligently for Him. The man who exercises his faculties will
surely strengthen them; but he must seek to do his best. There is need
of intelligence and educated ability to devise the best methods in
farming, in building, and in every other department, that the worker
may not labor in vain....
It is the duty of every worker not merely to give his strength
but his mind and intellect to that which he undertakes to do.... You
can choose to become stereo-typed in a wrong course of action
because you have not the determination to take yourselves in hand
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