“Children should be taught very young to be useful, to help themselves, and to help others. Many daughters of this age can, without remorse of conscience, see their mothers toiling, cooking, washing, or ironing, while they sit in the parlor and read stories, knit edging, crochet, or embroider. Their hearts are as unfeeling as a stone. But where does this wrong originate? Who are the ones usually most to blame in this matter? The poor, deceived parents. They overlook the future good of their children, and in their mistaken fondness, let them sit in idleness, or do that which is of but little account, which requires no exercise of the mind or muscles, and then excuse their indolent daughters because they are weakly. What has made them weakly? In many cases it has been the wrong course of the parents. A proper amount of exercise about the house would improve both mind and body. But children are deprived of this through false ideas, until they are averse to work. It is disagreeable and doe…
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
Both passages address the issue of idleness, particularly in the context of household duties. Proverbs 31:27 praises a woman who avoids idleness, while the EGW passage criticizes parents who allow their daughters to be idle and avoid work. The connection is clear and meaningful.
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Both passages address the upbringing of children. Ephesians 6:4 warns against provoking children to wrath and emphasizes nurture and admonition. EGW expands on this by addressing the specific issue of parents allowing children to be idle, which could be seen as a form of provocation by neglect. The EGW passage provides practical application of the principle of proper upbringing.