The Lord reads the intents and purposes of men. Those who have exalted views of His character will feel it their highest pleasure to have everything which has any connection with Him of the very best work and displaying the very best taste. But those who can grudgingly build a poorer house to dedicate to God than they would accept to live in themselves show their lack of reverence for God and for sacred things. Their work shows that their own temporal concerns are of more value in their eyes than matters of a spiritual nature. Eternal things are made secondary. It is not considered essential to have good and convenient things to use in the service of God, but they are considered highly essential in the concerns of this life. Men will reveal the true moral tone of the principles of their hearts. {2T 257.2}

Herren kan se hvad mennesker har i sinde. Dem som har højere syn af hans karakter vil føle det som deres højeste fornøjelse at have alt som har forbindelse med ham med det allerbedste arbejde og fremvise den allerbedste smag. Men dem som modstræbende kan bygge et fattigere hus til Gud end de selv ville leve i, viser deres mangel på ærbødighed for Gud og for hellige ting. Deres gerninger viser at deres egen timelige sager er af mere værdi i deres øjne end sager af åndelig art. (258) Evige sager gøres sekundært. Det anses ikke som væsentligt at have gode og praktiske ting i tjenesten for Gud, men de anses for betydningsfulde i dette livs anliggender. Mennesker vil afsløre den sande moralnuance i deres hjerters principper.