You are unacquainted with yourselves. Some possess selfishness, which leads to the narrowing up of their influence and efforts. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. Had the church been prepared to appreciate the work the Lord was doing among them, they would since that ingathering have been growing stronger and stronger. But instead of all throwing their whole soul into the work, and feeling a special, sincere interest to do all in their power to follow up the work after we left it, they acted very much as if the work did not specially concern them, and as though they were only spectators, ready to distrust and find fault wherever there was opportunity. {2T 219.2}

I kender ikke til jer selv. Nogle besidder selviskhed, som indskrænker deres indflydelse og bestræbelser. Der er større glæde i himlen over en synder der omvender sig end over ni og halvfems retfærdige som ikke behøver omvendelse. Havde menigheden været beredt til at påskønne det arbejde Herren udretter blandt den, ville den efter den bjærgning været vokset stærkere og stærkere. Men i stedet for at alle lægger hele deres sjæl i arbejdet og føler en særlig, oprigtig interesse for at gøre alt i deres magt for at følge arbejdet op efter os, handler de meget som om (220) arbejdet ikke vedrører dem og som de kun var tilskuere, parate til at mistænke og finde fejl hvor der var anledning til det.