Importance of Economy
93
and honoring their religion as much while working at the washtub or
washing the dishes as they are in going to meeting. While the hands
are engaged in the most common labor, the mind may be elevated
and ennobled by pure and holy thoughts. When any of the workers
manifest a lack of respect for religious things, they should be separated
from the work. Let none feel that the institution is dependent upon
them.
Those who have long been employed in our institutions should
now be responsible workers, reliable in every place, as faithful to
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duty as the compass to the pole. Had they rightly improved their
opportunities, they might now have symmetrical characters and a deep,
living experience in religious things. But some of these workers have
separated from God. Religion is laid aside. It is not an inwrought
principle, carefully cherished wherever they go, into whatever society
they are thrown, proving as an anchor to the soul. I wish all the workers
carefully to consider that success in this life and success in gaining
the future life depend largely upon faithfulness in little things. Those
who long for higher responsibilities should manifest faithfulness in
performing the duties just where God has placed them.—
Testimonies
for the Church 4:590, 591
.
Low Spirituality Affects Financial Managements [
A letter ad-
dressed to the General Conference president. In the later years of
his administration, this president came under the influence of several
publishing house leaders whose business principles were called into
question by Ellen White.
]—A net has been spread ... that the people
know not of, and that very few suspect the existence of. The condition
of things is binding your hands and hindering the work. The crisis
will soon be reached. The state of things is not fully revealed to me,
but this much I know: to a great degree the management of finances
has been conducted on wrong principles. While all is supposed to be
prosperous, there is peril.
You have connected with you men who have no living connection
with God. You fear to exercise your judgment, lest there shall be an
explosion. This is why I feel so sad. I have written out matters that
I dared not send to you unless there were persons of a firm, decided
character who would stand by your side as true yoke fellows to sustain
you. The two men who have been especially associated with you
should, in their present spiritual condition, have no part in planning