8, 18. The Good Hand of God Acknowledged—The Lord requires us to sink self in Jesus Christ, and let the glory be all of God. Our life is the Lord’s, and is invested with a responsibility that we do not fully comprehend. The threads of self have become woven into the fabric, and this has dishonored God. Nehemiah, after gaining so great an influence over the monarch in whose court he lived, and over his people in Jerusalem, instead of ascribing praise to his own excellent traits of character, his remarkable aptness and energy, stated the matter just as it was. He declared that his success was due to the good hand of God that was upon him. He cherished the truth that God was his safeguard in every position of influence. For every trait of character by which he obtained favor he praised the working power of God through His unseen agencies. And God gave him wisdom because he did not exalt himself. The Lord taught him how to use the gifts entrusted to him to the very best advantage, and under the supervision of God, these talents gained other talents. This human agent could be worked by divine agencies (Letter 83, 1898).{3BC 1136.6}

8, 18. Guds gode hånd anerkendte. - Herren forlanger at vi lader selvet synke i Jesus Kristus, og overlader al ære til Gud. Vort liv er Herrens, og sættes i et ansvar som vi ikke forstår til fulde. Selvets tråde er blevet indvævet i klædningen, og dette har vanæret Gud. Efter at Nehamis havde vundet indflydelse hos monarken, i hvis hof han boede, og over hans folk i Jerusalem, sagde han, i stedet for at tilskrive sine egne overmådelige karaktertræk, hans bemærkelsesværdige rammende bemærkninger og energi ros, så fremlagde han sagen sådan som den var. Han erklærede at hans succes tilskrives at Guds gode hånd var over ham. Han værnede om den sandhed at Gud var hans sikkerhed i enhver indflydelsesrig position. For alle de karaktertræk som han fik ros for, priste han Guds virkende kraft igennem hans usynlige agenter. Og Gud gav ham visdom, fordi han ikke ophøjede sig selv. Herren underviste ham, hvordan han skulle bruge de gaver han havde fået betroet til den allerbedste fordel, og under Guds ledelse vandt disse talenter andre talenter. Denne menneskeagent kunne bearbejdes af guddommelige agenter (Brev 83, 1898).