4:28Ephesians 4:28

The verse calls the one who has been stealing to stop theft altogether and instead earn a living by honest work with the hands at what is useful and good, so as to have something to share with those in need.Ms 59, 1902, par. 15–16+2 It belongs to putting off the old life corrupted by deceitful desires and putting on the new life created for righteousness and true holiness, no longer walking as those who do not know God walk.Ms 59, 1902, par. 15–16+2 All who are able to work are to provide for themselves and their households by diligent, useful labor rather than living idly on the support of others.ExVEGW 45.3+2 That labor is not for selfish gain but so there will be means to relieve the needy and to sustain and spread the cause of truth.CTBH 152.1+4 Lived out together, this change keeps the church in unity and oneness and bears a living witness to the world of a healthy faith.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1

The command is direct: the one who has been stealing must steal no more, but must instead labor with the hands at what is good, so as to have something to give to the one in need.Ms 59, 1902, par. 15–16+3 This is not an isolated rule but belongs to no longer walking as the Gentiles walk, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness.Ms 59, 1902, par. 15–16+3 Keeping it is part of doing all that is required to withstand in the evil day and to stand guarded over self, so that evil agencies do not lead into words and deeds that please the enemy, but words and deeds are fragrant with the holiness of truth.Lt 11, 1905, par. 13–16

In its setting the command stands together with putting away lying and speaking truth, being angry without sin, giving no place to the devil, speaking no corrupt communication but only what edifies and ministers grace, not grieving the Holy Spirit of God, and putting away bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil-speaking with all malice for kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness as God for Christ's sake forgives.Ms 59, 1902, par. 15–16+2 Learning Christ as the truth is in Jesus requires this change, for genuine conversion ends stealing and replaces it with honest labor and giving.Ms 18, 1899, par. 5–7+1 Claiming to believe the truth and even teaching it to others while still working unrighteousness shows one has only come to enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth without eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, without the wedding garment.Ms 18, 1899, par. 5–7+1

The instruction belongs to Ephesians 3 and 4, which means much and must be read most solemnly and impressed on minds.Lt 60, 1906, par. 8–11 It is included in a chapter that calls for loyalty to God's law, whose commands are to be kept by those who would live and receive the blessings of obedience.Ms 116, 1897, par. 27–29 It confronts hard-spiritedness that comes from being strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit and calls for a great reformation in the lives of believers, in words and works and spiritual understanding, catching the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts and daily breathing the atmosphere of heaven.Lt 60, 1906, par. 8–11 It is a warning that every soul must take to escape spiritual peril and unseen spiritual danger.Ms 147, 1904, par. 4–6 It calls for faith and works in clear distinct lines amid moral darkness, for setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief, for making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and for gathering every distinct ray of light that substantiates the truth while bearing aloft the banner for the last days, the third angel's message, to rescue souls in peril from Satan's increasing seducing power to deceive if possible the very elect.Ms 147, 1904, par. 4–6

Those who are able to work are to earn their living by good, honest, useful work with their hands, providing for themselves and their families rather than living idly on the support of others.ExVEGW 45.3+4 Such labor is to leave enough to bless others and to give toward sustaining, spreading, and supporting the cause of truth, and resources raised by selling possessions are for spreading the truth, not for maintaining in idleness those who are able to work but choose idleness.ExVEGW 45.3+4 This duty of hand labor belongs to all who are not especially called to labor in word and doctrine and to devote themselves entirely to preaching and teaching the way of life and salvation.CTBH 152.1+4 Even ministers, when they have no special errand or active work from God, are to use their time in honest labor rather than rely on the church for support, while they can still be useful where they are.21MR 13.3–14.5+2

The same requirement is that a man stop taking what is not his and instead work diligently with his hands at what is good so he can provide for those in need, working when not actively engaged in God's work and rejecting idleness.Lt 33, 1861, par. 15–16 Hand labor is not to be given up because of inconvenience or unpleasant feelings, but when strength seems lacking one is to seek God for strength to work.Lt 21, 1859, par. 2 Students are to learn to work with hands and minds to earn their daily bread so they can go teach their own people, becoming laborers as well as learners.14MR 39.2+1 That means combining physical labor with work of the mind, which gives strength and vigor to the brain, in clearing land, cultivating soil, planting trees, raising fruit and vegetables, and building, treasuring moments that belong to the Lord as precious as gold instead of wasting them in idleness, with properly worked land yielding its treasures so that existing poverty need not remain.Lt 86, 1897, par. 2–3

Strength, time, and power for labor are resources entrusted by God for which a person is accountable, just as those with property are accountable for their possessions, and are to be used rather than idled away, with every believer who professes present truth taking an active part in earning means and helping sustain God's cause and support his family.EW 76.1+2 Hand labor is one right calling alongside labor in word and doctrine, and both kinds of workers must guard their physical powers because Satan and his evil angels war against them to undermine their strength.CTBH 152.2 They are to take rest in body and mind when they can and eat nourishing food, since they will need all the power they have for the fearful conflict and time of trouble just ahead, and they must not make needless self-weakening for themselves.CTBH 152.2 Useful work and service to others are the alternative to wrongdoing, for idleness is sinful, and children find healthy pleasure in being useful and denying themselves to help others.HM Jun 1889

Honest work is done so that the worker may have something to give to the one who has need, providing for personal wants and then blessing others and advancing God's cause.21MR 375.2–3+2 All sincere believers belong to one family of workers who do not toil selfishly but labor earnestly and energetically with all their might, choosing the path of duty and the will of God rather than inclination and personal pleasure, so that life makes the world better.Ms 9, 1879, par. 15

Labor with the hands at what is good is to supply one's own needs and family and to leave something to give for sustaining, spreading, and supporting the cause of truth.ExVEGW 45.3+3 Those who are able to work carry accountability for strength for labor just as for ownership of property, and every believer professing present truth is to take an active part by earning means and using it to help sustain God's cause.EW 76.1 Apart from those especially called to labor in word and doctrine and to devote time to proclaiming the way of life and salvation, God requires His people to work and to lay by in store as He has prospered them and to set aside means according to prosperity.CTBH 152.1+1

God imparts His blessings and prospering grace so that His people have resources to give back to Him in worship with rejoicing hearts, laboring with self-denial not for selfish ends but to have means to give to those in need.Ms 73, 1900, par. 17–18 That giving includes self-denying offerings for His work to relieve indebted institutions and establish them on a sure basis so they do not fail and dishonor the cause, and to support workers and new fields.RH Dec 17, 1901+1 Giving is to help those in need, not to maintain in idleness people who are able to work but choose idleness.ExVEGW 45.3+2 Resources raised by selling possessions are meant to spread the truth, not as a reason to neglect honest work, to seek material benefit, or to covet another's property.ExVEGW 45.3+1

This working and giving is a present duty before the time of trouble, in contrast to that coming time of stern necessity and severe self-denial when they will eat merely enough to sustain life.CTBH 152.1+1 In the future time of trouble God's people will not work with their hands, their suffering will be mental, and God will impart strength, sustain them, and provide their food.21MR 375.2–3+1 The same principle calls for faithful, self-controlled use of God-given abilities not for selfishness or covetousness but to serve others, with each worker helping others develop their abilities by giving equal opportunities and encouragement.Ms 93, 1903, par. 7 Believers are thus to labor with their hands at daily toil while at the same time working for the Master, devoting time to God's service without thinking they must be paid for it.Ms 22, 1897, par. 26–27

The verse is part of God's plain and simple plan by which all His children may lay hold upon truth, the appointed means to keep His church in unity, oneness, and agreement so its members reveal a healthy and healthful religious experience to the unbelieving world.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1 Those who conform their lives to obedience to the commandments of God and are united in the faith of the Scriptures, bound together as one in Christ Jesus with their lives hid with Christ in God, practice the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1 As members of one family embraced in Christ they love one another as brethren with the unity that exists between the Father and the Son.Ms 68, 1900, par. 15–19 They make use of heaven's provision at infinite cost and cooperate with heavenly agencies as channels through which He works to draw souls to obedience to the holy law of God.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1

Their labor and giving bear a living and abiding testimony with powerful influence on the unbelieving world that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17 By this they show they appreciate God's great gift and that Christ has not died for them in vain.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17 Cooperating with the great Master Worker they become laborers together with God, partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1 Their consistent Christian lives of courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy, magnify the law of God and make it honorable and recommend obedience, demonstrating that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.Ms 67, 1907, par. 17+1 This includes helping one another recover from the suffering that results from the burden of debt.Ms 68, 1900, par. 15–19

Work and business are not sinful in themselves, and Christians should work rather than remain idle and may engage in business so they can provide for and give to people in need.ST Dec 17, 1896+1 Such work must not consume the time and attention that belong to God or displace duties to family and others.ST Dec 17, 1896 Becoming so absorbed in business that prayer, Bible study, and service to God are neglected makes worldly concerns supreme and prevents spiritual growth.COL 51.3 Useful, practical work with the hands is God's plan for physical exercise and for strength and vigor of mind and brain, and turning from this plan to human inventions harms spiritual life.CT 281.2+1 Moments are not to be wasted in idleness because time belongs to the Lord and is as precious as gold, and when carefully treasured and put to use it shows important results.Lt 86, 1897, par. 2–3 With industry properly worked land will yield its treasures through clearing land, cultivating soil, planting trees, raising fruit and vegetables, and building, so that the poverty that exists need not remain.Lt 86, 1897, par. 2–3