But since he had become poor, he had had still more care.

So now he should begin to earn again.
"Do so," said James the younger, "but take care that your heart is not so much in it that your possessions possess you!" And others came: "Sir, I am a ship's carpenter! Sir, I am a goldsmith! Sir, I am a stone-cutter! Are we not to put our whole heart into our work so as to produce something worthy?
If our heart is not in it we cannot do good work." "Of course," said the disciple, "you must exert your whole strength and talent in order to produce worthy work.

But not for the sake of the work or the praise, but for the sake of God and the men whom you serve.
And rejoice from your hearts that God creates His works through you." A rustic once came to James and discussed prayer.

The Master said you should pray in few words and not, as the heathens do, in a great many words, for the Father knows our needs.

Well, he had once prayed just in that way, using few words, but his prayer had not been heard.
Then James said: "Don't you remember what the Master said of the man to whose door a friend came in the night and begged for bread?
He had gone to bed, took no heed of his friend's knocking, and at length called out: 'Go away and let me sleep.' But the friend continued to knock and to complain that he needed bread, and began noisily to shake the door.