My Name is Industrious

I have had a little name card from my childhood. It gives the name Emily and it's meaning; "Industrious". Beneath that is printed this verse, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) I have always had it in mind that I ought to be like my name's meaning. It has yet to be proven if I am so like my name...

We must note that nothing truly useful and just will ever hinder the true Christian. These things include first INDUSTRIOUSNESS, which not only never hinder salvation but indeed advances it. We know that IDLENESS is the MOTHER OF VICES... Indeed, one can state positively that those who do nothing, who occupy themselves with nothing are - no matter how good they may seem - bad Christians and poor citizens, and if they are not in addition terrible sinners, this is only because of God's special providence for them. Therefore, be industrious. Grow accustomed to labor. You must labor and work and do everything your job and duties to the state and your nation require.

Now if idleness is the mother of all vices, industry can surely be termed the father of all virtues. This is the case, first because lacking the time to do or even think of evil (and being continually at work or tending to one's duties, or occupied with one's salvation and other Christian duties) the industrious person surely commits fewer sins. Second, because those who grow accustomed to industry will more readily consent to follow the pathway into the Kingdom of Heaven than those who lead an idle life, and will do so more easily. Thus, it is always and everywhere useful to be industrious. But to do so one must from childhood learn and grow accustomed to working.

- Priest [St.] Innocent Veniaminov, "Indication of the Pathway into the Kingdom of Heaven", tr. Paul Garrett in Alaskan Missionary Spirituality, ed. Michael J. Oleksa (SVS Press, 2010), pp. 117-18.

HT: Orrologion