WHEN Adam and Eve were created, they did not have to plow the ground, nor to sow the seed to get food for themselves; everything grew of itself, for God wanted them to enjoy His goodness in making all things on earth for their use. But, after they disobeyed Him, the Lord said to Adam that because of his sin, He cursed the ground; henceforth thorns and thistles should grow where only good and beautiful plants had been; and he should have to work hard to make the earth produce the food he needed.
While this was a punishment, it was also a blessing, for it is certain that
“Satan has some mischief still,
For idle hands to do.”
So God wants us to work with our own hands as we are commanded to do, and says if anyone will not work he should not eat.
But many people work hard, and plan and scheme that they may get rich, forgetting that someday they will have to leave all behind; to such the Lord says,
ML 08/24/1924