Many of our people have become narrowed in their views. Order, neatness, taste, and convenience are termed pride and love of the world. A mistake is made here. Vain pride, which is exhibited in gaudy trappings and needless ornaments, is not pleasing to God. But He who created for man a beautiful world, and planted a lovely garden in Eden with every variety of trees for fruit and beauty, and who decorated the earth with most lovely flowers of every description and hue, has given tangible proofs that He is pleased with the beautiful. Yet He will accept the most humble offering from the poorest, weakest child, if he has no better to present. It is the sincerity of the soul that the Lord accepts. The man who has God enshrined in his heart, exalted above all, will be led to a thorough submission of his will to God, and will make an entire surrender of himself to His rule and reign. {2T 258.1}

Mange af vore folk er blevet indsnævrede i deres syn. Orden, renhed, smag og bekvemmelighed kaldes som stolthed og verdenskærlighed. Her gøres et fejlgreb. Tom stolthed, som udvises i prangende pynt og unødige smykker behager ikke Gud. Men han som skabte en skøn verden for mennesket og plantede en smuk have i Eden med alskens variationer af træer for frugter og skønhed og som pyntede jorden med de smukkeste blomster i enhver beskrivelse og anstrøg, har givet håndgribelige beviser på at han er glad for skønhed. Dog vil han godtage det ydmygeste offer fra det fattigste, svageste barn, hvis det ikke har noget bedre at give. Det er sjælens oprigtighed som Herren godtager. Det menneske som Gud har opbevaret i sit hjerte, sat op over alt andet, vil ledes til en fuldstændig underkastelse af hans vilje og vil gøre en fuldstændig afståelse af sig selv til Guds herskelse og regering.