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OUR OCCUPATION

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 49, No. 16.

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OUR OCCUPATION.

By Eliza H. Morton

Some people seem to think that Christians should take no interest in worldly matters. This I think is a mistake. Christ says “occupy till I come,” and certainly as long as we are in the world we must use the things of the world. Occupation prevents sin. “An idle brain is Satan’s workshop;” therefore, it is for our spiritual good to keep employed. I do not mean by this that the Christian should become so engrossed in his business as to neglect his hours of prayer or meditation, or so fill his mind with worldly thoughts as to leave “no room for Jesus there.” The mind can, in a measure, be upon heavenly things while the hands are employed with temporal affairs. The farmer can see the goodness of God as manifested in the return of seed-time and harvest, and recognize the beneficence of the all-wise Being as displayed in the beauties of nature, and the comforts which are derived from the fruit of the ground.
The carpenter can remember that the Saviour of the world learned and practiced that trade. The teacher can think of Him who “taught as never man taught,” and we all can see some connection between our business and the work of Jehovah in creating the world to be inhabited. If we are consecrated to God, then our occupation will be the means of helping us on in the divine life. It may not be asked in the Judgment what occupation we followed when on earth; but it may be asked what effect our work had upon our hearts and lives and what influence upon the hearts and lives of others.
Let us, then, not become tired of our work and sick of the world, but let us perform well what our hands find to do, improve the time, live above the world while we mingle with it, set such an example and speak such words as shall show to others that we indeed “have been with Jesus.” “If we are faithful,” in this world, “in that which is least” we shall, by and by, have the true riches entrusted to our care, and when the Master returns, receive a reward rich and full, even an inheritance glorious and eternal.
ELIZA H. MORTON.