My attention was called to your desire to possess means. The sentiment of your heart was: “Oh, if I only had means, I would not squander it! I would set an example to those who are close and penurious. I would show them the great blessing there is to be received in doing good.” Your soul abhorred covetousness. As you have seen those who possessed abundance of this world’s goods shut their hearts to the cry of the needy you have said: “God will visit them; He will reward them according to their works.” As you have seen the wealthy walking in their pride, their hearts girt about with selfishness, as with iron bands, you have felt that they were poorer than yourself, although you were in want and suffering. When you have seen these purse-proud men bearing themselves loftily because money has power, you have felt pity for them, and in no case would you have been induced to change places with them. Yet you desired means that you might so use it as to be a rebuke to the covetous. {2T 277.2}

[Min opmærksomhed blev henledt på dit ønske om at være i besiddelse af midler. Dit hjertes tanke var: "Oh, om jeg dog blot besad midler, så ville jeg ikke ødsle dem bort! Jeg ville afgive et eksempel for dem, der er smålige og karrige. Jeg ville vise dem den store velsignelse, der kan opnås ved at gøre godt." Din sjæl nærede afsky for begærlighed. Når du har set dem, der har overflod af denne verdens gods, lukke deres hjerter for de trængendes råb, har du sagt: "Gud vil hjemsøge dem; han vil give dem løn efter deres gerninger." Når du har set de rige vandre i deres stolthed, med deres hjerter omgjordet med egoisme som med jernbånd, har du følt, at de var fattigere, end du var, skønt du led savn og mangel. Når du har set disse pengestolte mænd optræde overlegent, fordi penge er magt, har du følt medynk med dem og i intet tilfælde ville du have ladet dig formå (278) til at bytte rolle med dem. Dog ønskede du midler, for at du måtte kunne bruge den på en måde, som ville være en irettesættelse til de begærlige.