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Selected Messages Book 2
The way that they have been conducted at the college does not
bear the impress of heaven. It does not strengthen the intellect. It
does not refine and purify the character. There are threads leading
out through the habits and customs and worldly practices, and the
actors become so engrossed and infatuated that they are pronounced
in heaven, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. In the place of
the intellect becoming strengthened to do better work as students, to
be better qualified as Christians to perform the Christian duties, the
exercise in these games is filling their brains with thoughts that distract
the mind from their studies.
The More Excellent Way
Now the same power of exercise of mind and muscle might invent
ways and means of altogether a higher class of exercise, in doing
missionary work which would make them laborers together with God,
and would be educating for higher usefulness in the present life, in
doing useful work, which is a most essential branch in education.
There are many ways in which the youth can be putting to usury
the talents entrusted to them of God, to build up the work and cause
of God, not to please themselves but to glorify God. The Majesty of
heaven, the King of glory, made the infinite sacrifice in coming to our
world in order that He might elevate and ennoble humanity. He was a
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persevering, diligent worker. We read, He “went about doing good”
(
Acts 10:38
).
Is not this the work that every youth should be seeking to do,
working in Christ’s lines? You have Christ’s help. The ideas of the
students will broaden. They will be far-reaching, and the powers of
usefulness, even in your students’ life, will be continually growing.
The arms, the hands, which God has given, are to be used in doing
good which shall bear the signet of heaven, that you can at last hear
the “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (
Matthew 25:21
).
I do not think, from the way the matter has been presented to me,
that your ball games are so conducted that the record of the students
will be of that character, in the estimation of Him who weighs actions,
that will bring a reward to the actors.
Let there be a company formed somewhat after the plan of the
Christian Endeavor order, and see what can be done by each account-