What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Dealing with business earnings on the Sabbath"
Answer
Dealing with business matters on the Sabbath requires a strict separation from secular occupations in order to preserve the holiness of the day. God already regards planning business or mentally dwelling on professional topics as a violation of the fourth commandment.
Business establishments, such as restaurants, must remain closed on the Sabbath, because without honoring the day of rest no divine blessing can rest upon the work. Believers should also not enter into business partnerships with non‑believers, as this inevitably leads to conflicts between conscience and selfish profit motives.
Business planning and thoughts as Sabbath violation
»Whoever discusses business matters or devises plans on the Sabbath is regarded by God as if he were actually conducting business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our thoughts to linger on worldly matters. And the commandment includes everyone within our gates. The household members should set aside their secular affairs during the sacred hours.«
Closing of business operations on the Sabbath
»Our restaurants should not be open on the Sabbath. If they are not closed and the Lord’s day is not honored, one cannot expect God’s blessing to rest upon this branch of His work. The Lord does not require them to provide the public with meals on the Sabbath. The closed doors on the Sabbath mark the restaurant as a monument to God, a monument that declares that the seventh day is the Sabbath and that no unnecessary work may be done on it.«
Dangers of business partnerships
»Even in business relationships we cannot associate with those who are not loyal to God without sacrificing principles. What one party perceives as forbidden by conscience, the other permits. And this is not only in religious matters but also in business transactions. One side acts out of selfish motives, disregarding God’s law... The only safe direction is to follow the inspired instruction: “Do not take up the yoke of the unbelievers.”«
Avoidance of work for livelihood
»When the Sabbath begins, we should guard ourselves, our deeds, and our words so that we do not rob God by taking that time for our own use, which strictly belongs to the Lord. Neither we nor our children should perform any kind of work for livelihood, nor anything that could have been done on the six workdays.«
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Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
