Useful physical labor is a part of the gospel. The great Teacher, when enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, gave directions that every youth should learn a trade. Thus the people would be enabled to earn their own bread. And knowing how hard it was to obtain money, they would not spend their means foolishly.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 1

Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, learned the trade of a tent-maker. There were higher and lower branches of tent-making. Paul had learned the highest branches, and he could also work at the common branches when circumstances demanded. Tent-making did not bring returns so quickly as some other lines of business, and some times it was only by the strictest economy that Paul could supply his necessities.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 2

Why did Paul thus connect mechanical labor with the preaching of the gospel? Was not the laborer worthy of his hire? Why did he not labor all his time in preaching? Why waste time and strength in making tents? But Paul did not regard the time spent in making tents lost by any means. As he worked with Aquila, he kept in touch with the great Teacher. He gave Aquila needed instruction in spiritual things, and he also educated the believers in unity. While working at his trade he gave an example in diligence and thoroughness. He was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. He and Aquila and Priscilla had more than one prayer-and praise-meeting with those associated with them in tent-making. This was a testimony to the value of the truth they were presenting.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 3

Paul was an educator. He preached the gospel with his voice, and by diligent labor he preached it with his hands. He educated others in the same way that he had been educated by one regarded as the wisest of human teachers. As Paul worked quickly and skilfully with his hands, he related to his fellow workers the specifications Christ had given to Moses in regard to the building of the tabernacle, as found in the twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh chapters of Exodus. He repeated chapter after chapter to them, for his own and their benefit. He taught that supreme honor is to be given to God. He told them that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle, were given by God to be used for his glory. He repeated the communications from God to Moses found in Exodus 35:20, 35, and 36:1-7.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 4

After leaving Philippi, Paul went to Thessalonica, on the seacoast. The history of his work there is recorded in the first and second chapters of first Thessalonians. He labored in the gospel and worked also with his hands. “We were gentle among you,” he writes, “even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” He declares that if a man will not work, neither shall he eat, and by his own example he illustrates his teaching. He says, “Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail day and night, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.”AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 5

“And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus.” Here he remained three years and six months, “disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Here he toiled at his craft also. He writes to the Corinthians, “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labor, working with our own hands, being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 6

Lifting up his toil-worn hands, Paul makes this appeal, “Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessity, and to them that were with me.” Those hands speak to us with remarkable impressiveness.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 7

Why did Paul, an apostle of the highest rank, spend on mechanical labor time which to all appearances might have been put to better account? Why did he not devote his time and strength to the preaching of the word? By laboring with his hands Paul was preaching the word. Thus he set an example which spoke against the sentiment then gaining influence, that the preaching of the gospel excused the minister from mechanical and physical labor. Paul knew that there were many that loved ease and indulgence much better than useful labor. He knew that if ministers neglected physical work, they would become enfeebled. He desired to teach young ministers that by working with their hands, they would become sturdy; their muscles and sinews would be strengthened.AUGleaner June 16, 1909, par. 8

Mrs. E. G. White

June 9, 1909

June 23, 1909