Had he received the instruction given of God, and been corrected, he would have obtained the victory over these strong habits and besetments. But I saw that he had so long let these habits control him that the strong foe has bound him. His deal has not been correct. Dishonesty has been gaining upon him, and he has taken from the treasury means that he had no right to, and has used it to his own advantage. He has considered that he had better judgment in disposing of means than his brethren. When means was placed in his hands to be applied, and the giver named the individuals who were to receive it, he has acted from impulse, taken the liberty to apply it to suit himself, instead of carrying out the wishes of the giver, and has used what portion of it he saw fit for his own benefit. God has frowned upon these things. A dishonest course has been gaining upon him. He has considered that he was the Lord’s steward, and could apply the means, even of another, as he saw fit. Every man is to be his own steward. {1T 227.3}

Havde han taget imod belæringen fra Gud og blevet rettet, ville han have vundet sejr over disse stærke vaner og bestemmelser. Men jeg så, at så længe han lod disse vaner styre ham, bandt den stærke fjende ham. Hans handlemåde var ikke korrekt. Uærlighed har vundet over ham og han har taget midler fra skatkammeret, som han ingen ret havde til og brugt dem til hans egen vinding. Han har anset sig selv for at have en bedre dømmekraft i forvaltningen af midler end hans brødre. Når han fik midler i sine hænder til forvaltning og giveren gav navne på dem, som skulle have dem, har han handlet ud fra indskydelser og taget friheden og brugt dem på sig selv, i stedet for at føre giverens ønsker ud i livet og brugt den del af dem han så var godt for sin egen fordel. Gud har misbilliget dette. En uærlig fremgangsmåde er halet ind på ham. Han (228) har anset sig for at være Herrens forvalter og kunne bruge midlerne, endda andres, som han så for godt. Enhver må være sin egen husholder.