The Value and Importance of Secular Work

It is truly wonderful to reflect on the value and importance of working in secular environments, a practice deeply supported and encouraged for all individuals. Engaging in honest labor, whether with our hands or minds, is not only a part of God's design but also a means through which we can honor Him in our daily livesCG 348.1+1.

None of us should be ashamed of work, however small and servile it may appear. Labor is ennobling. All who toil with head or hands are working men or working women. And all are doing their duty and honoring their religion as much while working at the washtub or w...— CG 348.1 (1954)

Yet all the lawful pursuits of life may be safely followed, if the spirit is kept free from selfish hopes and the contamination of deceit and envy. The business life of the Christian should be marked with the same purity that held sway in the workshop of the holy Nazarene. It is the working men and women—those wh...— CTBH 99.1 (1890)

“Various industries should be carried on in our schools. The industrial instruction given should include the keeping of accounts, carpentry, and all that is comprehended in farming. Preparation should be made for the teaching of blacksmithing, painting, shoemaking, and for cooking, baking, washing, mending, typewriting, and printing. Every power at our command is to be brought into this training work, that students may go forth well equipped for the duties of practical life— CT 310.2 (1913)

Those who labor in business lines should take every precaution against falling into error through wrong principles or methods. Their record may be like that of Daniel in the courts of Babylon. When all his business transactions were subjected to the closest scrutiny, not one faulty item could be found. The record of his business life, incomplete though it is, contains lessons worthy of study. It reveals the fact that a business man is not necessarily a scheming, policy man. He may be a man instructed of God at every step. Daniel, while prime minister of the kingdom of Babylon, was a prophet of God, receiving the light of heavenly inspiration. His life is an illustration of what every Christian business man may be...— GW 424.1 (1915)

It is an important matter that students be given an education that will fit them for successful business life. In many schools, the education given is one-sided. In our school the common branches should be fully and thoroughly taught. Bookkeeping is one of the most important lines of study to fit students for practical business life. Bookkeeping should be looked upon as of equal importance with grammar. And yet, there are very few...— 8MR 154.1 (1990)

...he curse, brought forth weeds and thistles. But the employment itself was not given because of sin. The great Master Himself blessed the work of tilling the soil— 10MR 261.1 (1990)

...g our work remember there is One that is watching the spirit in which we are doing it. Shall we not bring the Saviour into our everyday lives, into our secular work and domestic duties? Then in the name of God we want to leave behind everything that is not necessary, all gossiping or...— 7BC 972.2 (1957)

It is essential for parents to find useful employment for their children, which will involve the bearing of responsibilities as their age and strength will permit. The children should be given something to do that will not only keep them busy, but interest them. The active hands and brains must be employed from the earliest years. If parents neglect to turn their children's energies into useful channels, they do them great...— SpTEd 38.1 (1897)

I have been shown that much sin has resulted from idleness. Active hands and minds do not find time to heed every temptation which the enemy suggests, but idle hands and brains are all ready for Satan to control. The mind, when not properly occupied, dwells upon improper things. Parents should teach their children that idleness is sin. I was referred to Ezekiel 16:49: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, ...— 1T 395.2 (1885)

...ot only hearers, but doers of the Word. Meet God's standard in the education of your children. Let them see that you are preparing for the Sabbath on the working days of the week. All preparation should be made, every stitch taken, on the six working days; all cooking for the Sabbath should be done on the preparation day. It is possible to do this, and ...— LUH April 14, 1909, par. 1 (1908)

The glory and joy of life is found only by the working man and woman. Labor brings its own reward, and the rest is sweet that is purchased by the fatigue of a well-spent day. But there is a self-im...— HR September 1, 1876, par. 8 (1866)

...ason appears beautiful and forcible when we understand the record of creation to mean literal days. The first six days of each week are given to man in which to labor, because GOD employed the same period of the first week in the work of creation. The seventh day GO...— EGWSRGES 3.2 (1982)

...e who are unfaithful in little things, cannot be intrusted with the true riches of the kingdom. Yet all the lawful pursuits of life may be safely followed, if the spirit is kept free from selfish hopes and the contamination of deceit and envy. The business life of the Christian should be marked with the same purity that held sway in the work-shop of the holy Nazarene. It is the working man or woman who sees something great or good in life, and who is willing to bea...— ST October 9, 1884, par. 10 (1874)

In his business life the Christian is to stand as a representative of the principles of heaven. He is bound by sacred obligations to bear witness to truth in its virtue and holiness. Gentleness and kindness and strict truthfulness should mark his words and actions. If he is consecrated to God, set apart to sacred service, he will always honor his religious faith. No thread of selfishness will be woven into the character. He will educate himself to reveal the Spirit of God in all his life work— ST February 24, 1909, par. 1 (1874)

...hom God has favored with special privileges and blessings in making us the depositaries of his law. None of us are to be idlers in the vineyard of the Lord. We are not all qualified to do the same kind of work; all cannot be ministers, to labor in word and doctrine; but there are many other lines of work, fully as important as preaching, which have been sadly neglected— RH October 22, 1914, par. 11 (1851)

Six days of the week are by divine inspiration called “the six working days;” the seventh is called the Sabbath of the Lord. Who shall dare confound this marked distinction— HSFD 106.2 (1873)

Physical labor was appointed before the fall, and must have been designed to meet the wants of men. The organization of man is such that he needs to exercise his working faculties; and he cannot ne...— SLH 47.4 (1864)

Mr. Jones.—So have I been through this that the working people go through. I have carried the hod by the day. I have swung the hammer and shoved the plane by the day. I am a working-man now just as much as I ever was, though not in precisely the same way; and I say to you that I never was robbed of that twenty-fou...— NSLRLL 104.2 (1892)

...ch enjoins the day of rest. That commandment says: “Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, no...— PSPRA 8.1

“Now if only two-thirds of that sum had been employed to increase the general wealth and welfare, and to improve the lot of the working classes in town and country, the social question would not now weigh like a fearful nightmare on all Europe...— PTUK July 4, 1895, page 423.2

In the use of the word “guilty” in the case of Mr. Marvell, we do not wish to be understood as implying that any guilt attaches to labour on Sunday. It has been given to man as one of “the six work...— PTUK August 10, 1893, page 304.11

But this is not all, nor is it the main point at all. The mere fact that meetings were held on a certain day proves nothing, because the disciples were accustomed to meet every day...— SITI June 10, 1886, page 342.3

3. The permission. This part, though permissive, is inseparable from the precept. “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.” Some have taken the position that this also is perceptive. Be that as it may; no one can deny that it contains a divine grant to labor on the six days, excluding the seventh— SITI December 8, 1881, page 546.18

N. Scituate, R. I. Bro. P. Aldrich writes:—“The brethren here were never stronger in the faith once delivered to the saints, than at the p...— HST January 22, 1845, page 189.4 (1844)

...we need him with us, in public, in private, in waking and in sleeping hours, in acts of worship and in our secular employment, in the house of God, and at our daily toil, everywhere and at all times we need his presence and his grace. And we shall need him with us when the night comes down upon us, when the great storm shall sweep ...— ARSH January 26, 1860, page 76.3 (1859)

...y atmosphere there will be purity itself. But they are unacquainted with it all. When in the world, pursuing their worldly vocations, they knew just where to take hold and just what to do. The lower order of faculties being in so constant exercise, grew, while the higher, nobler powers ...— 1TT 243.1 (1949)

...rements of the law or, in the press of worldly business, would forget its sacred importance. “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work” Exodus 20:9, the usual business of life, for worldly profit or pleasure. These words are very explicit; there can be no mistake— 1TT 496.1 (1949)

...f the Sabbath, that there has been too much slackness. There has not been promptness to fulfill the secular duties within the six working days which God has given to man, and a carefulness not to infringe upon one hour of the holy, sacred time, God has reserved to hims...— T12 48.2 (1867)

Every interested working man and woman employed in the office should be a faithful sentinel, watching the littles, that nothing be wasted. They should guard against supposed wants and expenditures of means. Some men will live better on four hundred dollars a year than others will on eight hundred. Just so it is with our institutions. Some can manage them with far less capital than others. God would have every worker practice economy, and especially learn to be faithful accountants— 3LtMs, Ms 1, 1879, par. 6 (1876)

Those who divide religion from their business are reproved by the example of Jesus. And besides, when He choose His co-laborers in the work of salvation, He selected sturdy toilers from among the fishermen of Galilee and the tent-makers of Corinth. From these humble men went forth a power that will be felt through all eternity. It is the working...— 6LtMs, Ms 58, 1890, par. 17 (1889)

...t take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” John 17:15.] Piety and goodness and truth and righteousness may be the principles running through the whole business career. There are temporal duties to be done in this world, and the example of Daniel is given us as to the possibility of this business being done with stric...— 8LtMs, Lt 31a, 1893, par. 5

The Lord has given to man six days in which to labor for his temporal good, but he has reserved one day, the seventh, for his own and called it by his name, the Sabbath of th...— 8LtMs, Ms 106, 1893, par. 1

...llowed to worship. Everyone of the working class is excluded. And therefore Christ is excluded, for He was a worker, toiling at the carpenter’s bench as an example to us. On one occasion a noble family took their seamstress to this church, and the other members were gr...— 9LtMs, Ms 11b, 1894, par. 16

No one can be a sincere Christian unless he is a laborer together with God, unless he belongs to the family of workers. We must ever bear in mind that we are in co-partnership with God. His work and His cause demand th...— 11LtMs, Ms 13, 1896, par. 14

...s morning is the first opportunity I have had to read it. My brother, I deeply sympathize with you. I am sorry you have engaged in worldly business, but I do not want you to suppose that I have any condemnation for you in my heart or mind. I have no feelings toward you but the feelings of tenderness which every Chris...— 14LtMs, Lt 173, 1899, par. 1

...to wrong channels. There must be more beholding of our Saviour and more talking of heavenly things. Our secular work must be done, but every business transaction needs the closest criticism, else we shall find interwoven with it threads of selfishness, and it will become a snare to our fe...— 22LtMs, Ms 39, 1907, par. 19