"The Dignity of Labor God ordained that the beings He created should work. Upon this their happiness depends. No one in the Lord's great domain of creation was made to be a drone. Our happiness increases and our powers develop as we engage in useful employment. LS 87"
"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle established in Genesis 2:15, that God intended for humans to work. The passage in Genesis describes God placing Adam in the Garden of Eden to 'dress it and keep it,' indicating that work was part of God's original design for humanity.
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
The EGW passage emphasizes the dignity of labor and states that no one was made to be a drone. This aligns with the principle in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which states that if anyone is unwilling to work, they should not eat. Both passages highlight the importance of work and discourage idleness.
"Action gives power. Entire harmony pervades the universe of God. All the heavenly beings are in constant activity; and the Lord Jesus, in His life work, has given an example for every one. He went about “doing good.” God has established the law of obedient action. Silent but ceaseless, the objects of His creation do their appointed work. The ocean is in constant motion. The springing grass, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, does its errand, clothing the fields with beauty. The leaves are stirred to motion, and yet no hand is seen to touch them. The sun, moon, and stars are useful and glorious in fulfilling their mission. LS 87.2"
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
The EGW passage directly quotes the phrase 'doing good' and attributes it to Jesus' life work, which is a clear and explicit allusion to Acts 10:38.
"At all times the machinery of the body continues its work. Day by day the heart throbs, doing its regular, appointed task, unceasingly forcing its crimson current to all parts of the body. Action, action, is seen pervading the whole living machinery. And man, his mind and body created in God's similitude, must be active in order to fill his appointed place. He is not to be idle. Idleness is sin. LS 87.3"
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
The EGW passage states that 'Idleness is sin' and connects it to the need for activity and filling one's appointed place. This aligns with the principle in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which condemns idleness and emphasizes the importance of work. The connection is a direct application of the biblical principle to the concept of idleness as sin.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
The EGW passage connects the idea of man being created in God's image with the need for activity and purpose. While not a direct quote or explicit allusion, it draws a thematic parallel between the creation account and the expectation of active engagement in life, stemming from being made in God's likeness.