Chapter 31—Contemplating Marriage I was pointed back to last May, when the Lord visited -----, and was shown the case of Brother D. He was not prepared to take part in that work. His mind and heart were elsewhere. He was contemplating marriage and could not listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come; for all things are now ready.” His contemplated marriage engrossed his attention. He had no time or inclination to open the door of his heart to the gracious Visitor. Had he done this, Christ would have given him good counsel, which, if heeded, would have been of priceless value to him. He would have presented before him in its true light his danger of yielding to the dictates of a wayward inclination and setting aside the glory of God and the decisions of sober reason. He would have charged him to beware how he trod in the footsteps of those who had fallen and been ruined. But this brother did not consider that God had claims upon him; that he should make no move without consulting Him who had bought him. We are instructed that whatever we do, we should do all to His glory. {2T 225.3}

Jeg blev vist tilbage til sidste maj, da Herren besøgte ___ og fik vist bror D's sag. Han var ikke rede til at tage del i det arbejde. Hans sind og hjerte var andre steder. (226) Han overvejede at gifte sig og kunne ikke lytte til Jesu indbydelse. Hans påtænkte ægteskab optog hans opmærksomhed. Han havde ingen tid eller tendens til at åbne sit hjertes dør for den nådige Gæst. Havde han gjort dette, ville Kristus have givet ham gode råd, som, hvis de var påskønnet, ville have været af uvurderlig værdi for ham. Han ville have fremstillet, i det sande lys, den store fare han er i, for at overgive sig til en egensindig tilbøjeligheds påbud og sætte Guds herlighed og al sund fornuft til side. Han ville pålægge ham for at tage sig i agt hvordan han trådte i deres fodspor som er faldet og styrtet i fordærvelse. Men denne bror tog ikke hensyn til de pålæg Gud havde givet ham; at han ikke skulle gøre noget uden at rådføre sig med ham som havde købt ham. Vi er belært om at hvad vi end gør, skal vi gøre det hele til hans ære.