Whatever you do, do your best. – Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatever you hand finds to do, do it with your might, for these is no work no device of knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Forgiving others. – Matthew 6:14 & 15 – ¹⁴”For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Gather will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Love others. Lude 10:27 – So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’”

Profession Alone Means Nothing
The lesson is no less needed in the world today than when it fell from the lips of Jesus. Selfishness and cold formality have well-nigh extinguished the fire of love, and dispelled the graces that should make fragrant the character… Unless there is practical self-sacrifice for the good of others, in the family circle, in the neighborhood, in the church, and wherever we may be, then whatever our profession, we are not Christians. DA 504

Abhor the evil, cling to the good. – Romans 12:9-19 – ⁹Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹²rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. ¹⁷Repay no on evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Be a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 & 7 – ⁶But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Receive By Imparting
The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So, it is with those who are faithful in distributing God’s gifts. By imparting they increase their blessings. God has promised them a sufficiency that they may continue to give. COL 86

Give thanks in everything. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & 18 – ¹⁷Pray without ceasing, ¹⁸in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Provide for your family. – 1 Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Contentment. – 1 Timothy 6:6-10 – ⁶Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts with drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We either feed the sinful nature or the spiritual nature. – Romans 8:5 – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

The great Bible standard for recreation, amusement, entertainment – and all our behavior. – Philippians 4:8 – Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

God’s prophecy about the decorated women of Zion. – Isaiah 3:16-24 – ¹⁶Moreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, ¹⁷Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts.” ¹⁸In the day of the Lord will take away their finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; ¹⁹the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; ²⁰the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, ²¹and the rings; the nose jewels, ²²the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, ²³and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. ²⁴And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and braiding instead of beauty.

Modesty and the inward adornment of good works. – 1 Timothy 2:9 & 10 – ⁹In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Our Money Not Our Own
Money is a trust from God. It is not ours to expend for the gratification of pride or ambition. In the hands of God’s children, it is food for the hungry, and clothing for the naked… You could bring happiness to many hearts by using wisely the means that is now spent for show. Consider the life of Christ. Study His character and be partakers with Him in His self-denial. MH 287

Inner versus outer beauty. – 1 Peter 3:3 & 4 – ³Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – ⁴rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

One of Satan’s Inventions
Almost as soon as they come into the world the children are subject to fashion’s influence. They hear more of dress than of their Savior… The display of dress is treated as of greater importance than the development of character… For fashion’s sake they are cheated out of preparation for the life to come. It was the adversary of all good who instigated the invention of the ever-changing fashions. He desires nothing so much as to bring grief and dishonor to God by working the misery and ruin of human beings. MH 291

On swearing and by words. Matthew 26:73 & 74 – ⁷³And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” ⁷⁴Then he began to curse and swear “I do not know the Man!”

Character Revealed With Scorn
Peter had not designed that his real character should be known… If he had been called to fight for his Master, he would have been a courageous soldier; but when the finger of scorn was pointed at him, he proved himself a coward. Many who do not shrink from active warfare for their Lord are driven by ridicule to deny their faith. By associating with those whom they should avoid, they place themselves in the way of temptation. They invite the enemy to tempt them and are led to say and do that of which under other circumstances they would never have been guilty. The disciple of Christ who in our day disguises his faith through dread of suffering or reproach denies his Lord as really as did Peter in the judgment hall… It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for this great sin. All the disciples, by sleeping in the critical hour, sustained a great loss. DA 712-714

Let nothing corrupt escape your lips. – Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Avoid obscenities and foolish talk. – Ephesians 5:4 – Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

He who deals with a slack hand becomes poor. – Proverbs 10:4 & 5 – ⁴He who has slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. ⁵He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

In all labor there is profit. – Proverbs 14:23 – In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.

Don’t overwork to be rich. – Proverbs 23:4 & 5 – ⁴Labour not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom. ⁵Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

Don’t be unequally yoked. – 2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

No Union Between Light and Darkness
But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted prom paganism, they entered upon a path which led further and further from the truth. GC 45

Look to the ant for an example. – Proverbs 6:6-11 – ⁶Go to the ant, your sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, ⁸provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? ¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep – ¹¹So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Lessons Through Nature
The ants teach lessons of patient industry, of perseverance in surmounting obstacles, of providence for the future. And the birds are teachers of the sweet lesson of trust. Our heavenly Father provides for them; but they must gather the food, they must build their nests and rear their young.  Every moment they are exposed to enemies that seek to destroy them. Yet how cheerily they go about their work! How full of joy are their little songs! Ed 117, 118

An idle person will suffer hunger. – Proverbs 19:15 – Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

A little sleep and slumber brings laziness. – Proverbs 24:30-34 – ³⁰I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³²When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like and armed man.

Greedy for gains. – Proverbs 1:19 – So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

A greedy person troubles even his own house. – Proverbs 15:27 – He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

Being hasty leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.