distress and perplexity upon those in who he should have had a special
interest. Those who link their affections and interest to one or two, and
favor them to the disadvantage of others, should not retain their position
in the office for a day. This unsanctified partiality for special ones who
may please the fancy, to the neglect of others who are conscientious and
God-fearing, and in His sight of more value, is offensive to God. That
which God values we should value. The ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit He regards of higher value than external beauty, outward adornment,
riches, or worldly honor.
The true followers of Christ will not choose intimate friendship with
those whose characters have serious defects, and whose example as a whole
it would not be safe to follow, while it is their privilege to associate with
persons who observe a conscientious regard for duty in business, and in
religion. Those who lack principle and devotion generally exert a more
positive influence to mold the minds of their intimate friends than is exerted
by those who seem well balanced and able to control and influence the
defective in character, those lacking spirituality and devotion.
Brother B’s influence, if unsanctified, endangers the souls of those
who follow his example. His ready tact and ingenuity are admired, and
lead those connected with him to give him credit for qualifications that he
does not possess. At the office he was reckless of his time. If this had
affected himself only, it would have been a small matter; but his position
as foreman gave him influence. His example before those in the office,
especially the apprentices, was not circumspect and conscientious. If, with
his ingenious talent, Brother B possessed a high sense of moral obligation,
his services would be invaluable to the office. If his principles had been
such that nothing could have moved him from the straight line of duty, that
no inducement which could have been presented would have purchased his
consent to a wrong action, his influence would have molded others; but his
desires for pleasure allured him
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from his post of duty. If he had stood in the strength of God, unmoved
by censure or flattery, steady to principle, faithful to his convictions of
truth and justice, he would have been a superior man and would have
won a commanding influence everywhere. Brother B lacks frugality and
economy. He lacks the tact which would enable him to adapt himself to the
opening providence of God and make him a minuteman. He loves human
praise. He is swayed by circumstances, and is subject to temptation, and
his integrity cannot be relied upon.
Brother B’s religious experience was not sound. He moved from
impulse, not from principle. His heart was not right with God, and he
did not have the fear of God and His glory before him. He acted very
much like a man engaged in common business; he had but very little
sense of the sacredness of the work in which he was engaged. He had
not practiced self-denial and economy, therefore he had no experience in
this. At times he labored earnestly and manifested a good interest in the
work. Then again he would be careless of his time and spend precious
moments in unimportant conversation, hindering others from doing their
duty and setting them an example of recklessness and unfaithfulness. The
work of God is sacred and calls for men of lofty integrity. Men are wanted
whose sense of justice, even in the smallest matters, will not allow them to
make an entry of their time that is not minute and correct—men who will
realize that they are handling means that belongs to God, and who would
not unjustly appropriate one cent to their own use; men who will be just
as faithful and exact, careful and diligent, in their labor, in the absence of
their employer as in his presence, proving by their faithfulness that they
are not merely men pleasers, eye-servants, but are conscientious, faithful,
true workmen, doing right, not for human praise, but because they love and
choose the right from a high sense of their obligation to God.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Parents are not thorough in the education of their children. They do not
see the necessity of molding their minds by discipline. They give them a
superficial education, manifesting
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