Chapter 4—Standards of Success
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Many of our
youth do not feel the necessity of bringing their powers into vigorous
exercise to do their best at all times and under all circumstances. They
do not have the fear of God before their eyes, and their thoughts are
not pure and elevated.
All heaven is cognizant of every thought and every action. Your
actions may be unseen by your associates, but they are all open to the
inspection of angels. The angels are commissioned to minister unto
those who are striving to overcome every wrong habit, and stand clear
from the devices of Satan.
Faithful Integrity
The power of little acts of evil, of small inconsistencies to mold
character, are not estimated as they should be. The grandest and most
elevated principles are revealed to us in the Word of God. They are
given to us to strengthen every effort for good, to control and balance
the mind, to lead us to aspire to reach a high standard.
In the history of Joseph, Daniel, and his fellows, we see how the
golden chain of truth may bind the youth to the throne of God. They
could not be tempted to turn aside from their course of integrity. They
valued the favor of God above the favor and praise of princes, and God
loved them and spread His shield over them. Because of their faithful
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integrity, because of their determination to honor God above every
human power, the Lord signally honored them before men. They were
honored by the Lord God of hosts, whose power is over all the works
of His hand in heaven above and the earth beneath. These youth were
not ashamed to display their true colors. Even in the court of the king,
in their words, their habits, their practices, they confessed their faith in
the Lord God of heaven. They refused to bow to any earthly mandate
that detracted from the honor of God. They had strength from heaven
to confess their allegiance to God.
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