Nor is this all. The love that should exist between brethren has been lacking. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” has been manifest; a selfish, covetous spirit has been in the hearts of the brethren. Instead of looking out for the interests of the brethren and caring for them, there has been manifested in deal a close, selfish spirit that God despises. Those who make so high a profession, and who number themselves among the peculiar people of God, saying by their profession that they are zealous of good works, should be noble and generous, and should ever manifest a disposition to favor their brethren instead of themselves, and should give their brethren the best chance. Generosity begets generosity. Selfishness begets selfishness. {1T 149.4}

Men det er ikke det hele. Den kærlighed som skulle være blandt brødre har lidt mangel. »Skal jeg vogte min broder?« er blevet tilkendegivet. En selvisk og begærlig ånd har været i brødrenes hjerter. I stedet for at se efter brødrenes interesser og drage omsorg for dem, har der i handling været vist en indesluttet og selvisk ånd, som Gud foragter. Dem der gør sig (150) en stor bekendelse og som regner sig selv blandt Guds særlige folk, siger ved deres bekendelse at de er nidkære i gode gerninger, burde være ophøjede og ædelmodige og burde altid vise en natur der begunstiger deres brødre i stedet for dem selv og burde give deres brødre den bedste anledning. Selviskhed afføder selviskhed.