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Danger in Amusements
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not to devise and plan according to their own judgment, irrespective
of His counsel.
Our schools are to be as the schools of the prophets. In them
the truths of the Bible are to be earnestly studied. If rightly brought
before the mind and thoughtfully dwelt upon, these truths will give
the students a desire for that which is infinitely higher than worldly
amusement. As they draw near to God, becoming partakers of the
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divine nature, earthborn amusements will sink into nothingness. The
minds of the students will take a higher turn, and beholding the
character of Jesus, they will strive to be like Him.
Useful Employment Versus Selfish Pleasure
In the place of providing diversions that merely amuse, arrange-
ments should be made for exercises that will be productive of good.
Students are sent to our schools to receive an education that will
enable them to go forth as workers in God’s cause. Satan would
lead them to believe that amusements are necessary to physical
health; but the Lord has declared that the better way is for them to
get physical exercise through manual training and by letting use-
ful employment take the place of selfish pleasure. The desire for
amusement, if indulged, soon develops a dislike for useful, healthful
exercise of body and mind such as will make students efficient in
helping themselves and others.
God bestows talents upon men, not that these talents may lie
unused or be employed in self-gratification, but that they may be
used to bless others. God grants men the gift of time for the purpose
of promoting His glory. When this time is used in selfish pleasure,
the hours thus spent are lost for all eternity.
* * * * *
Our young people need to be surrounded with wholesome, up-
lifting influences. They are to be kept in the love of the truth. The
standard set before them should be high.
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