The men whose heads were white with age, and whose faces were furrowed with care, yet who were eagerly grasping the treasures within the crown, were the aged, who have but a few years before them. Yet they were eager to secure their earthly treasures. The nearer they came to the grave, the more anxious they were to cling to them. Their own relatives were not benefited. The members of their own families were permitted to labor beyond their strength to save a little money. They did not use it for others’ good, or for their own. It was enough for them to know that they had it. When their duty to relieve the wants of the poor, and to sustain God’s cause are presented before them, they are sorrowful. They would gladly accept the gift of everlasting life, but are not willing that it should cost them anything. The conditions are too hard. But Abraham would not withhold his only son. In obedience to God he could sacrifice this child of promise more easily than many would sacrifice some of their earthly possessions. {1T 351.1}

De mænd, hvis hoveder var hvidhårede af ælde og hvis ansigter var blevet furede af bekymring, men som dog greb begærligt efter skattene i kronen, var de gamle, der kun havde få år igen at leve i. Alligevel var de ivrige efter at sikre sig deres jordiske skatte. Jo mere de nærmede sig graven, med desto større ængstelighed klyngede de sig til dem. Intet kom deres egne slægtninge til gode. Medlemmerne i deres egne familie fik lov til at arbejde over evne for at der kunne spares lidt penge. De gjorde ikke brug af dem til andres bedste, ej heller til deres eget. For dem var det nok at vide, at de havde dem. Når deres pligt til at lindre de fattiges trang og til at støtte Guds sag bliver fremholdt for dem, bliver de bedrøvede. De ville med glæde modtage det evige liv som en gave, men vil ikke, at det skal koste dem noget. Betingelserne er for svære. Men Abraham ville ikke holde sin egen søn tilbage. I lydighed mod Gud kunne han lettere ofre dette forjættelsens barn, end mange ville ofre lidt af deres jordiske besiddelser.