The desire that some of our brethren possess to earn means fast, leads them to engage in a new enterprise and invest means, but often their expectations of making money are not realized. They sink that which they could have spent in God’s cause. There is an infatuation in these new enterprises. And notwithstanding these things have been acted over so many times, and they have before them the example of others who have made investments and have met with an utter failure, yet many are slow to learn. Satan allures them on, and makes them drunk with anticipated gains. When their hopes are blasted, they suffer many discouragements in consequence of their unwise adventures. If means is lost, the person looks upon it as a misfortune to himself—as his loss. But he must remember that it is the means of another which he is handling, that he is only a steward, and God is displeased with the unwise management of that means which could have been used to advance the cause of present truth. At the reckoning day the unfaithful steward must give an account of his stewardship.

Lysten, som vore brødre har for at hurtigt tjene midler, får dem til at gå ind i nye arrangementer og investere midler, men ofte indfries deres forventer ikke for at lave penge. De graver det ned, som de kunne have brugt på Guds sag. Disse nye virksomheder forblinder sindet. Og ikke desto mindre er disse ting gjort så mange gange og de har deres eksempel for dem, som har gjort investeringer og er kommet over det med fuldstændig nederlag og alligevel er mange langsomme til at lære. Satan lokker dem og gør dem fordrukne med forudgående gevinster. Når deres håb er ødelagt, bliver de meget modløse, på grund af deres ukloge handlinger. Hvis midler mistes, ser mennesket på det som en ulykke for sig selv - som sit tab. Men han må huske på at det er andres midler, han har med at gøre, at han kun er en forvalter og at Gud er mishaget ved den uforstandige styring af de midler, som kunne have været brugt til den nærværende sandheds sags fremme. På optegnelsens dag må den upålidelige tjener aflægge et regnskab for sin forvaltning.