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Counsels for the Church
No recreation helpful only to themselves will prove so great a
blessing to the children and youth as that which makes them helpful
to others. Naturally enthusiastic and impressible, the young are quick
to respond to suggestion
God has provided for everyone pleasure that may be enjoyed by
rich and poor alike—the pleasure found in cultivating pureness of
thought and unselfishness of action, the pleasure that comes from
speaking sympathizing words and doing kindly deeds. From those
who perform such service, the light of Christ shines to brighten lives
darkened by many sorrows
There are plenty of necessary, useful things to do in our world
that would make the pleasure amusement exercise almost wholly un-
necessary. Brain, bone, and muscle will acquire solidity and strength
in using them to a purpose, doing good, hard thinking, and devising
plans which shall train them to develop powers of intellect and strength
of the physical organs, which will be putting into practical use their
God-given talents with which they may glorify God
I do not condemn the simple exercise of playing ball; but this, even
in its simplicity, may be overdone.
[162]
I shrink always from the almost sure result which follows in the
wake of these amusements. It leads to an outlay of means that should be
expended in bringing the light of truth to souls that are perishing out of
Christ. The amusements and expenditures of means for self-pleasing,
which lead on step by step to self-glorifying, and the educating in these
games for pleasure produce a love and passion for such things that is
not favorable to the perfection of Christian character
Association and Correct Habits
Young persons who are thrown into one another’s society may
make their association a blessing or a curse. They may edify, bless,
and strengthen one another, improving in deportment, in disposition,
in knowledge; or, by permitting themselves to become careless and
unfaithful, they may exert only a demoralizing influence.
219
Education, 212
220
Testimonies for the Church 9:57
221
The Adventist Home, 509
222
The Adventist Home, 499