God is not dependent upon man for the support of His cause. He could have sent means direct from heaven to supply His treasury, if His providence had seen that this was best for man. He might have devised means whereby angels would have been sent to publish the truth to the world without the agency of men. He might have written the truth upon the heavens, and let that declare to the world His requirements in living characters. God is not dependent upon any man’s gold or silver. He says: “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.” Whatever necessity there is for our agency in the advancement of the cause of God, He has purposely arranged for our good. He has honored us by making us co-workers with Him. He has ordained that there should be a necessity for the co-operation of men, that they may keep in exercise their benevolence. {3T 390.2}

Gud er ikke afhængig af menneskers støtte i sin sag. Han kunne have sendt midler direkte fra himmelen til at fylde sit forrådshus, hvis han i sit forsyn havde set, at dette var bedst for menneskene. Han kunne have fundet midler, hvorved engle ville være blevet sendt for at forkynde sandheden for verden uden menneskelig hjælp. Han kunne have skrevet sandheden på himmelhvælvingen og ladet denne kundgøre hans krav for verden med levende skrift. Gud er ikke afhængig af menneskers guld eller sølv. Han siger: »Mig tilhører alt skovens vildt, dyrene på de tusinde bjerge.« »Om jeg hungred, jeg sagde det ikke til dig, thi mit er jorderig og dets fylde!« Hvilken nødvendighed der end måtte være for vor medvirken til Guds sags fremme, har han »med forsæt forordnet den til bedste for os. Han har hædret os ved at gøre os til sine medarbejdere. Han har forordnet, at menneskers medvirken skulle være en nødvendighed, for at de vedblivende må kunne gøre brug af deres godgørenhed.