"***** God has no use for lazy men in His cause; He wants thoughtful, kind, affectionate, earnest workers. Active exertion will do our preachers good. Indolence is proof of depravity. Every faculty of the mind, every bone in the body, every muscle of the limbs, shows that God designed our faculties to be used, not to remain inactive.... Men who will unnecessarily take the hours of daylight for sleep, have no sense of the value of precious, golden moments.... GW 277.1"
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:"
Both passages address the importance of avoiding laziness and being industrious. The EGW quote echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 6:6, using similar imagery and urging action against sloth.
"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"
The EGW quote directly aligns with the principle of Romans 12:11, which encourages diligence and fervor in serving the Lord. Both emphasize the importance of avoiding slothfulness in one's work.
"Persons who have not acquired habits of close industry and economy of time, should have set rules to prompt them to regularity and dispatch. George Washington was enabled to perform a great amount of business because he was thorough in preserving order and regularity. Every paper had its date and its place, and no time was lost in looking up what had been mislaid. GW 277.2"
"Let all things be done decently and in order."
The EGW quote emphasizes order and regularity, which directly reflects the principle in 1 Corinthians 14:40 that all things should be done decently and in order. The example of George Washington further illustrates this principle.