Selfishness Beclouds Judgment . Today, as in Christ’s day, Satan rules the minds of many. Oh, that his terrible, fearful work could be discerned and resisted! Selfishness has perverted principles, selfishness has confused the senses and clouded the judgment. It seems so strange that notwithstanding all the light that is shining from God’s blessed word, there should be such strange ideas held, such a departure from the spirit and practice of truth. The desire to grasp large wages, with a determination to deprive others of their God-given rights, has its origin in Satan’s mind; and by their obedience to his will and way, men place themselves under his banner. Little dependence can be placed on those that have been taken in this snare, unless they are thoroughly converted and renovated; for they have been leavened by wrong principles, which they could not perceive were deleterious in their effect. {TM 392.3}

Egenkærlighed formørker dømmekraften
I dag, såvel som i Kristi dage, hersker Satan i manges sind. Oh, hvor hans forfærdelige og farefulde arbejde kunne være erkendt og modvirket! Egenkærlighed har trodset principper, egenkærlighed har forvirret sanserne og formørket (393) bedømmelsen. Det synes så besynderligt at til trods for at al lys der skinner fra Guds velsignede ord, at der så skulle være mærkelige tanker og et sådant frafald fra sandhedens gerninger og ånd. Ønsket om at få store lønninger, med en bestemmelse om at fratage andre deres guds-givne rettigheder har sin oprindelse i Satans tanker; og ved lydighed til hans vilje og veje, sætter mennesker sig selv under hans banner. En lille tillid kan kun gives til som har været fanget i denne snare, medmindre de fuldstændigt vender om og fornyer sig; for de har været gennemsyret ved forkerte principper, som de ikke kunne erkende var skadelig for dem selv.