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Sustained Versus Spasmodic Effort, August 6
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every
one that is hasty only to want.
Proverbs 21:5
.
How many youth who might have become men of usefulness and
power have failed because in early life they contracted habits of indeci-
sion which followed them through life to cripple all their efforts. Now
and then they are filled with sudden zeal to do some great thing, but they
leave their work half finished and it comes to nothing. Patient continu-
ance in welldoing is indispensable to success.... Temperate, persevering,
steady labor will achieve far more than can be accomplished by spasmodic
efforts....
Labor was appointed to man by his Creator. God provided employment
for our first parents in holy Eden. And since the Fall, man has been a
toiler, eating his bread by the sweat of his brow. Every bone of his body,
every feature of his countenance, every muscle of his limbs, evinces the
fact that he was made for activity—not for idleness.
Habits of industry should be formed in youth.... The faithful discharge
of life’s duties, whatever your position, calls for a wise improvement of
all the talents and abilities that God has given you. Guard against being
always hurried, yet accomplishing nothing worthy of the effort. These
fruitless efforts are often caused by a failure to do the work at the proper
time. Whatever is neglected at the time when it should be performed,
whether in secular or in religious things, is rarely done well. Many appear
to labor diligently every hour in the day, and yet produce no results to
correspond with their efforts....
Be careful not to fritter away your time upon trifles, and then fail to
carry out your undertakings that are of real account.... A steadfast adher-
ence to a purpose is necessary in order to secure the end. A distinguished
man was once asked how it was possible for him to accomplish such a vast
amount of business. His answer was, “I do one thing at a time”.... Jesus
was an earnest worker, and those who follow His example will experience
self-denial, toil, and sacrifice.
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