Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

Para. 3, [HOLINESS].
The great apostle to the Gentiles was a tent-maker, and
was not ashamed to work with his hands. Physical labor was
not a hindrance to him in his work, but rather made him
more successful in advancing the cause of truth. As he
labored with his hands, or traveled on foot in imitation of
the example of his divine Master before him, he showed that
he was actuated by unselfish principles, set an example for
his brethren to follow, and had the satisfaction that he
did what he could to supply his wants and the wants of
others. He could say, I have coveted no man's silver, or
gold, or apparel. Yes, ye yourselves know that these hands
have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were
with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring
ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, how he said, "It is more blessed to give
than to receive." "For ye remember, brethren, our labor and
travail; for laboring night and day, because we would not
be chargeable to any of you, we preached unto you the
gospel of God." "Neither did we eat any man's bread for
naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day,
that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because
we had not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto
you to follow us." Acts xx, 33-35; 1 Thess ii, 9; 2 Thess
iii, 8, 9. p. 50, Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
When man had fallen, God cursed the earth, thus making it
necessary for man to labor more to maintain his existence.
The solemn mandate from God was, "Cursed is the earth for
thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it, all the days of
thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to
thee; and thou shalt eat of the herb of the field. In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return
unto the ground." Gen. iii, 17-19. p. 50, Para. 2,
[HOLINESS].
This judgment was mixed with mercy. It was a blessing to
man that God added to his labor after he sinned. As man
labored in the sweat of his face, he would be more apt to
remember his shameful fall, and would be less inclined to
devise and practice wickedness. On the same principle it is
wiser for people now to labor than to remain in idleness.
If children generally were taught to delight more in manual
labor, their minds would not be so liable to wander from
the path of virtue, and they would be more easily kept from
pursuing a course that has ruined thousands of promising