In the estimation of the rabbis it was the sum of religion to be always in a bustle of activity. They depended upon some outward performance to show their superior piety. Thus they separated their souls from God, and built themselves up in self-sufficiency. The same dangers still exist. As activity increases and men become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work. While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.

Efter de skriftkloges vurdering bestod fromheden væsentligt i altid at være i fuld aktivitet. De var afhængige af en eller anden ydre handling for at vise deres store fromhed. Således skilte de deres sjæle fra Gud og skaffede sig selv opbyggelse ved deres indbildskhed. De samme farer findes stadig. Når aktiviteten forøges og det lykkes for mennesker at udrette noget for Gud, er der fare for at sætte sin lid til menneskelige planer og metoder. Der kommer tilbøjelighed til at bede mindre og til at have mindre tro. Vi er ligesom disciplene i fare for at miste vor afhængighed af Gud af syne og søge frelse i vor virketrang. Vi må bestandig se hen til Jesus og gøre os klart, at det er hans kraft, som udretter det alt sammen. Skønt vi skal arbejde alvorligt for de fortabtes frelse, skal vi også give os tid til meditation, til bøn og til studie af Guds ord. Kun det arbejde, der kan udrettes med megen bøn og bliver helliget ved Kristi kraft, vil til slut vise sig at have virket til det gode.