Presenting Health and Christian Standards
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The Quest for Pleasure—Multitudes are vainly seeking happiness
in worldly amusements. They crave something which they do not have.
They are spending their money for that which is not bread, and their
labor for that which satisfieth not. The hungering, thirsting soul will
continue to hunger and thirst as long as it partakes of these unsatisfying
pleasures. O that every such one would listen to the voice of Jesus, “If
any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” Those who drink of
the living water will thirst no more for frivolous, exciting amusements.
Christ, the wellspring of life, is the fountain of peace and happiness.
God bestows various talents and gifts upon men, not that they may
lie useless, nor that they may be employed in amusements or selfish
gratification, but that they may be a blessing to others by enabling
men to do earnest, self-sacrificing missionary work.—
The Youth’s
Instructor, November 6, 1902
.
Shows and Theaters—Satan’s ruling passion is to pervert the
intellect and cause men to long for shows and theatrical performances.
The experience and character of all who engage in this work will be in
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accordance with the food given to the mind.
The Lord has given evidence of His love for the world. There was
no falsity, no acting, in what He did. He gave a living gift, capable
of suffering humiliation, neglect, shame, reproach. This Christ did
that He might rescue the fallen. While human beings were instituting
schemes and methods to destroy Him, the Son of the Infinite God came
to our world to give an example of the great work to be done to redeem
and save man. But today the proud and disobedient are striving to
acquire a great name and great honor from their fellow men by using
their God-given endowments to amuse.—
Manuscript 42, 1898
.
Working for Pleasure Lovers—Instead of disparaging Jacob’s
well, Christ presented something infinitely better.... He offered the
woman something better than anything she possessed, even living
water, the joy and hope of the gospel of His kingdom.
This is an illustration of the way in which we are to work. It is
of little use for us to go to pleasure lovers, theatergoers, horse racers,
drunkards, gamblers, and scathingly rebuke them for their sins. This
will do no good. We must offer them something better than that which
they have, even the peace of Christ, which passeth all understanding....
These poor souls are engaged in a wild chase after worldly pleasure
and earthly riches. They have no knowledge of anything more desir-