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Fundamentals of Christian Education
should have been devoted to labor, that the physical and mental powers
might be equally exercised. If schools had been established upon the
plan we have mentioned, there would not now be so many unbalanced
minds.
God prepared for Adam and Eve a beautiful garden. He provided
for them everything that their wants required. He planted for them
fruit-bearing trees of every variety. With a liberal hand He surrounded
them with His bounties. The trees for usefulness and beauty, and the
lovely flowers, which sprung up spontaneously, and flourished in rich
profusion around them, were to know nothing of decay. Adam and
Eve were rich indeed. They possessed Eden. Adam was lord in his
beautiful domain. None can question the fact that he was rich. But
God knew that Adam could not be happy unless he had employment.
Therefore He gave him something to do; he was to dress the garden.
If men and women of this degenerate age have a large amount of
earthly treasure, which, in comparison with that paradise of beauty
and wealth given the lordly Adam, is very insignificant, they feel
themselves above labor, and educate their children to look upon it as
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degrading. Such rich parents, by precept and example, instruct their
children that money makes the gentleman and the lady. But our idea of
the gentleman and the lady is measured by the intellect and the moral
worth. God estimates not by dress. The exhortation of the inspired
apostle Peter is, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of
God of great price.” A meek and quiet spirit is exalted above worldly
honor or riches.
The Lord illustrates how He estimates the worldly wealthy, who
lift up their souls unto vanity because of their earthly possessions,
by the rich man who tore down his barns and built greater, that he
might have room to bestow his goods. Forgetful of God, he failed to
acknowledge whence all his possessions came. No grateful thanks
ascended to his gracious Benefactor. He congratulated himself thus:
“Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease,
eat, drink, and be merry.” The Master, who had intrusted to him earthly
riches with which to bless his fellow men and glorify his Maker, was
justly angry at his ingratitude, and said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul