God has given Brother A Y good abilities, quick perceptions, and a good understanding of His word. If his heart were sanctified, he could have an influence for good with his brothers, as well as his neighbors and those with whom he associates. But the love of money has taken so firm a hold of his soul, and has been so interwoven with all the transactions of life, that he has become conformed to the world instead of being transformed by the renewing of the mind. His powers have been perverted and debased by sordid love of gain, which has made him selfish, penurious, and overbearing. Had his qualities been put into active use in his Master’s service, rather than used to serve his own selfish interests, had his object and aim been to do good and glorify God, the qualities of mind that God had given him would impart to his character an energy, humility, and efficiency which could not fail to command respect and would give him an influence over all with whom he associated. {3T 126.2}

Gud har givet bror A Y. gode evner, hurtig opfattelse og en god forståelse for sit ord. Hvis hans hjerte var helliget, kunne han have en god indflydelse hos sine brødre, så vel som sine naboer og dem han omgås. Men kærlighed til penge har taget så fast et greb i hans sjæl og har været så meget indflettet i alle hans livsanliggender, at han er blevet tilpasset verden i stedet for at forvandles ved sindets fornyelse. Hans kræfter er blevet fordrejet og fornedret af ussel kærlighed for vinding, som har gjort ham selvisk, pengekærlig og overlegen. Var hans evner brugt aktivt i sin Mesters tjeneste, i stedet for at være brugt til sine egne interesser, havde hans mål været at gøre godt og forherlige Gud, de sindsegenskaber som Gud har givet ham vil give hans karakter en kraft, ydmyghed og virkevne som ikke undlader respektindgydelse og som vil give ham indflydelse over alle han omgås.