"The Lessons of Contented Industry Among the evils resulting from wealth, one of the greatest is the fashionable idea that work is degrading. The prophet Ezekiel declares: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49 . Here are presented before us the terrible results of idleness, which enfeebles the mind, debases the soul, and perverts the understanding, making a curse of that which was given as a blessing. It is the working man or woman who sees something great and good in life, and who is willing to bear its responsibilities with faith and hope. CT 279"
"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
EGW directly quotes Ezekiel 16:49 to support her argument about the dangers of idleness, making this an explicit allusion.
"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger."
EGW directly quotes Ezekiel 16:49 and builds her argument about the evils of idleness upon it. While Proverbs 19:15 also addresses idleness, the Ezekiel reference is the primary basis for the connection.
"The essential lesson of contented industry in the necessary duties of life is yet to be learned by many of Christ's followers. It requires more grace, more stern discipline of character, to work for God in the capacity of mechanic, merchant, lawyer, or farmer, carrying the precepts of Christianity into the ordinary business of life, than to labor as an acknowledged missionary in the open field. It requires a strong spiritual nerve to bring religion into the workshop and the business office, sanctifying the details of everyday life, and ordering every transaction according to the standard of God's word. But this is what the Lord requires. CT 279.2"
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
EGW's statement about doing all things for God, even in ordinary work, directly reflects the principle in 1 Corinthians 10:31.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
EGW's emphasis on doing work heartily as unto the Lord aligns directly with the principle expressed in Colossians 3:23.
"The apostle Paul regarded idleness as a sin. He learned the trade of tentmaking in its higher and lower branches, and during his ministry he often worked at this trade to support himself and others. Paul did not regard as lost the time thus spent. As he worked, the apostle had access to a class of people whom he could not otherwise have reached. He showed his associates that skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He taught that even in everyday toil God is to be honored. His toil-hardened hands detracted nothing from the force of his pathetic appeals as a Christian minister. CT 279.3"
"And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers."
EGW directly refers to Paul's tentmaking, which is explicitly mentioned in Acts 18:3. She elaborates on the implications of this fact.
"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."
EGW's discussion of Paul's view of idleness and his example of working with his hands closely parallels the exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to work with one's own hands and avoid idleness.