Train Them to a Habit of Always Redeeming the Time.

From: How Should a Child Be Trained? By: J.C. Ryle

Ezekiel 16:49 • 1 min. read • grade level: 8

Idleness is the devil’s best friend. It is the surest way to give him an opportunity of doing harm. An idle mind is like an open door, and if Satan does not enter in himself by it, it is certain he will throw in something to raise bad thoughts in our souls. We must have our hands filled and our minds occupied with something, or else our imaginations will soon ferment and breed mischief. “This was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her” (Ezek. 16:49⁴⁹Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49)). Verily, I believe that idleness has led to more sin than almost any other habit that could be named. I love to see them active and industrious and giving their whole heart to all they do.

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