Habits
177
rust from inaction. Pet indulgences must be given up; laziness must be
overcome.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:408
(1880).
Habits That Degrade Higher Faculties—Any habit which does
not promote healthful action in the human system degrades the higher
and nobler faculties. Wrong habits of eating and drinking lead to errors
in thought and action.—
The Review and Herald, January 25, 1881
.
(
Counsels on Health, 67
.)
Overcoming Preestablished Habits—Preestablished habits and
ideas must be overcome in many cases before we can make advance-
ment in religious life.—
The Review and Herald, June 21, 1887
. (
Fun-
damentals of Christian Education, 118
.)
Wrong Habits Difficult to Unlearn (counsel to an executive)—
It will be difficult now for you to make the changes in your character
which God requires you to make, because it was difficult for you to be
punctual and prompt of action in youth. When the character is formed,
[598]
the habits fixed, and the mental and moral faculties have become firm,
it is most difficult to unlearn wrong habits, to be prompt in action.
You should realize the value of time. You are not excusable for
leaving the most important, though unpleasant work, hoping to get rid
of doing it altogether or thinking that it will become less unpleasant,
while you occupy your time upon pleasant matters not really taxing.
You should first do the work which must be done and which involves
the vital interests of the cause, and only take up the less important
matters after the more essential are accomplished.
Punctuality and decision in the work and cause of God are highly
essential. Delays are virtually defeats. Minutes are golden and should
be improved to the very best account. Earthly relations and personal
interests should ever be secondary. Never should the cause of God be
left to suffer in a single particular because of our earthly friends or
dearest relatives.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:499, 500
(1875).
Hereditary and Cultivated Tendencies Become Habits—The
great hereditary and cultivated tendency to evil with Judas was cov-
etousness. And by practice this became a habit which he carried into
all his trading. Christlike principles of uprightness and justice had
no room in selling and buying. His economical habits developed into
a parsimonious spirit and became a fatal snare. Gain was his mea-
surement of a correct religious experience, and all true righteousness
became subordinate to this. While he continued a disciple in outward