"One great reason why physical toil is looked down on is the slipshod, unthinking way in which it is so often performed. It is done from necessity, not from choice. The worker puts no heart into it, and he neither preserves self-respect nor wins the respect of others. Manual training should correct this error. It should develop habits of accuracy and thoroughness. Pupils should learn tact and system; they should learn to economize time and to make every move count. They should not only be taught the best methods, but be inspired with ambition constantly to improve. Let it be their aim to make their work as nearly perfect as human brains and hands can make it. Ed 222.1"
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
EGW's statement directly echoes the principle of Colossians 3:23, which encourages doing all work heartily as unto the Lord. EGW elaborates on how to apply this principle to manual labor, emphasizing accuracy, thoroughness, and a positive attitude.
"Such training will make the youth masters and not slaves of labor. It will lighten the lot of the hard toiler, and will ennoble even the humblest occupation. He who regards work as mere drudgery, and settles down to it with self-complacent ignorance, making no effort to improve, will find it indeed a burden. But those who recognize science in the humblest work will see in it nobility and beauty, and will take pleasure in performing it with faithfulness and efficiency. Ed 222.2"
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
Both passages encourage diligence and applying oneself fully to whatever task is at hand. EGW expands on this principle by highlighting the value of recognizing science and nobility in even the humblest work, while Ecclesiastes urges doing work with might before death.