Influence of Associates
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and honoring their religion as much while working at the washtub or
washing the dishes as they are in going to meeting. While the hands
are engaged in the most common labor, the mind may be elevated
and ennobled by pure and holy thoughts. When any of the workers
manifest a lack of respect for religious things, they should be separated
from the work. Let none feel that the institution is dependent upon
them.
Those who have long been employed in our institutions should
now be responsible workers, reliable in every place, as faithful to
duty as the compass to the pole. Had they rightly improved their
opportunities, they might now have symmetrical characters and a deep,
living experience in religious things. But some of these workers have
separated from God. Religion is laid aside. It is not an inwrought
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principle, carefully cherished wherever they go, into whatever society
they are thrown, proving as an anchor to the soul. I wish all the workers
carefully to consider that success in this life and success in gaining
the future life depend largely upon faithfulness in little things. Those
who long for higher responsibilities should manifest faithfulness in
performing the duties just where God has placed them.
The perfection of God’s work is as clearly seen in the tiniest insect
as in the king of birds. The soul of the little child that believes in Christ
is as precious in His sight as are the angels about His throne. “Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
As God is perfect in His sphere, so man may be perfect in his sphere.
Whatever the hand finds to do should be done with thoroughness and
dispatch. Faithfulness and integrity in little things, the performance
of little duties and little deeds of kindness, will cheer and gladden the
pathway of life; and when our work on earth is ended, every one of
the little duties performed with fidelity will be treasured as a precious
gem before God.
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