And many who are working with a very different purpose, fall into a like error. They are working for others' good; their duties are pressing, their responsibilities are many, and they allow their labor to crowd out devotion. Communion with God through prayer and a study of His word is neglected. They forget that Christ has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:5. They walk apart from Christ, their life is not pervaded by His grace, and the characteristics of self are revealed. Their service is marred by desire for supremacy, and the harsh, unlovely traits of the unsubdued heart. Here is one of the chief secrets of failure in Christian work. This is why its results are often so meager.

Og mange, der arbejder med et helt andet mål for øje, falder i en lignende snare. De arbejder for andres bedste, de har mange pligter og store ansvar og de tillader at deres arbejde går forud for deres gudsdyrkelse. Samfundet med Gud gennem bøn og bibelstudium bliver forsømt. De glemmer at Kristus har sagt: "Skilt fra mig kan I slet intet gøre." De lever adskilt fra Kristus, deres liv gennemstrømmes ikke af hans nåde, og det, der kendetegner selvet, kommer til syne. Deres gerning skæmmes af ønsket om overhøjhed og ubehagelige, ukærlige karaktertræk, der uhæmmet har fået lov til at udvikle sig. Her findes en af hovedårsagerne til nederlag i arbejdet for Kristus. Det er grunden til, at resultaterne ofte er så små.