Moderation in Work
In order to gain a little money, many deliberately arrange their
business matters so that it necessarily brings a great amount of hard
work upon those laboring out of doors, and upon their families in the
house. The bone, muscle, and brain of all are taxed to the utmost: a
great amount of work is before them to be done, and the excuse is,
they must accomplish just all that they possibly can, or there will be
a loss, something will be wasted. Everything must be saved, let the
result be what it may.
What have such gained? Perhaps they have been able to keep the
principal good, and add to it. But on the other hand, what have they
lost? Their capital of health, which is invaluable to the poor as well
as the rich, has been steadily diminishing. The mother and the chil-
dren have made repeated drafts upon their fund of health and strength,
thinking that such an extravagant expenditure would never exhaust
their capital, until they are surprised at last to find their vigor of life
exhausted. They have nothing left to draw upon in case of emergency.
The sweetness and happiness of life are embittered by racking pains
and sleepless nights. Both physical and mental vigor are gone. The
husband and father who, for the sake of gain, made the unwise ar-
rangement of his business, it may be with the full sanction of the wife
and mother, may, as the result, bury the mother and one or more of the
children. Health and life were sacrificed for the love of money. (Read
1 Timothy 6:10
.)—
Testimonies for the Church 1:478
(1865).
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