"How to Spend Holidays Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor, and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental. It is not essential to our salvation nor for the glory of God to keep the mind laboring constantly and exclusively, even upon religious themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place. CT 346"
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"
The EGW passage echoes the sentiment of Ecclesiastes 3:1 by acknowledging that there is a time for everything, including recreation. It uses this principle to argue that not all amusements are acceptable, and that Christians should choose harmless alternatives. The connection is not a direct quote, but a clear application of the principle.
"I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children. On these days when there is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of these dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you have their good and happiness in view. CT 346.2"
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
EGW's statement about providing alternatives to worldly amusements for children during holidays directly reflects the principle of nurturing and admonishing children in the Lord, rather than provoking them to wrath by neglecting their needs and desires. It's a practical application of the biblical principle.