Chapter 47—Man’s Duty to His Fellow Men - I have been shown some things in regard to Brother I’s family which have pressed upon my mind so strongly since I have been in this place that I venture to write them out. I have been shown, Brother I, that there exists in your family an element of selfishness which clings to you like the leprosy. This selfishness must be seen and overcome, for it is a grievous sin in the sight of God. As a family you have so long consulted your own wishes, your own pleasure and convenience, that you do not feel that others have claims upon you. Your thoughts, plans, and efforts are for yourselves. You live for self; you do not cultivate disinterested benevolence, which, if exercised, would increase and strengthen until it would be your delight to live for others’ good. You would feel that you had an object in life, a purpose that would bring you returns of greater value than money. You need to have a more special interest for humanity, and in so doing you would bring your souls into closer connection with Christ and would be so imbued with His Spirit and would cleave to Him with so firm a tenacity that nothing could separate you from His love. {3T 521.2}

Jeg er blevet vist nogle ting om bror I's familie som har ligget mig meget på sinde, siden jeg var der og som jeg nu vover at skrive ned. Jeg er blevet vist, bror I, at der er et selviskhedens element i din familie, som klynger sig til jer ligesom spedalskhed. Denne selviskhed må erkendes og overvindes, for det er en frygtelig synd i Guds øjne. Som familie har I længe rådført jer med jeres egne ønsker og jeres eget behag og bekvemmelighed, at I ikke føler at andre har krav på jer. (522) Jeres tanker, planer og anstrengelser er kun for jer selv. I lever for selvet, I opelsker ikke uegennyttig godgørenhed, som kunne forøges og styrkes indtil det ville være jeres glæde at leve for andres gode. I føler at I har haft et mål i livet, et livsmål der ville give jer større værdi tilbage end penge kan give. I behøver at have en mere særlig interesse for menneskeheden og derved ville I bringe jeres sjæle i nærmere forbindelse med Kristus og I ville blive omhyllet af hans Ånd og I ville holde jer så meget fast til ham at intet kunne adskille jer fra hans kærlighed.