Christ is waiting in gracious mercy, waiting to make you vessels unto honor. The Holy Ghost inspired Paul to lift up his voice in earnest, solemn words, saying, “None of us liveth to himself.” We should take these words to heart. Money has been worse than thrown away for needless adornment of yourselves and your children. You should turn this current of means into the channel that reaches the treasury of the Lord. 1NL 80.4
God requires that you should educate and discipline your children for His work; and the very first lesson that you should teach them is that of self-denial and self-sacrifice. You should set before them the great Pattern, Christ Jesus, and imitate Him yourselves, and teach your children to walk in His footsteps. 1NL 80.5
We may manufacture many wants, we may place snares before our children by allowing them to gratify their every desire. We may curtail their usefulness by granting them the free use of means that they may make a display. 1NL 80.6
Children are a gift of God to increase the experience and happiness of parents. Parents through discipline may become more useful in teaching their children to be Christ's children and so increase their influence for good. 1NL 80.7
Instead of denying self, how many will give a trifle to the cause of God, and then indulge their children in the gratification of selfish desires, thus educating them to place their influence on Satan's side. It would be better had such parents never been born, for if the grace of Christ's has never controlled your souls, how can you expect it to control the souls of your children? 1NL 80.8
Self-indulgence is the curse of our families, and as a consequence, the curse of our churches. 1NL 80.9
The world lives for pleasure, for selfishness, and how can we hope to draw the world to Christ, when we also live for the gratification of self? Christ has said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”—Manuscript 53, 1895. 1NL 80.10
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In this connection see also:
F. E., pp. 64-70, “The Home and the School.”
F. E., pp. 149-161, “Home Education.”
Education, 186-189, “Family Study.”
C. T., pp. 173-177, “The Work of the Church School.”
C. T., pp. 150-157, “Co-operation Between the Home and the School.”
Testimonies for the Church 6:193-205, “Church Schools.”
Testimonies for the Church 6:119, “Teaching Home Religion.”