Every believer should be wholehearted in his attachment to the church. Its prosperity should be his first interest, and unless he feels under sacred obligations to make his connection with the church a benefit to it in preference to himself, it can do far better without him. It is in the power of all to do something for the cause of God. There are those who spend a large amount for needless luxuries; they gratify their appetites, but feel it a great tax to contribute means to sustain the church. They are willing to receive all the benefit of its privileges, but prefer to leave others to pay the bills. Those who really feel a deep interest in the advancement of the cause will not hesitate to invest money in the enterprise whenever and wherever it is needed. They should also feel it a solemn duty to illustrate in their characters the teachings of Christ, being at peace one with another and moving in perfect harmony as an undivided whole. They should defer their individual judgment to the judgment of the body of the church. Many live for themselves alone. They look upon their lives with great complacency, flattering themselves that they are blameless, when in fact they are doing nothing for God and are living in direct opposition to His expressed word. The observance of external forms will never meet the great want of the human soul. A profession of Christ is not enough to enable one to stand the test of the day of judgment. There should be a perfect trust in God, a childlike dependence upon His promises, and an entire consecration to His will. {4T 18.1}

Enhver troende bør være helhjertet i sin tilknytning til menigheden. Dens fremgang bør være hans første interesse og føler han ikke, at det er hans hellige pligt at gøre sin forbindelse med menigheden til gavn for sig selv, vil menigheden være langt bedre stillet uden ham. Det står i enhvers magt at gøre noget for Guds sag. Der er nogle, som bruger store summer til unødig luksus; de tilfredsstiller deres lyster, men føler det som en stor byrde at yde midler til at støtte menigheden. De er villige til at nyde fordelen af alle dens privilegier, men foretrækker at overlade det til andre at betale regningen. De, der føler en virkelig interesse for sagens fremme, vil ikke betænke sig på at sætte penge i arbejdet, når som helst og hvor som helst det tiltrænges. De bør tillige føle det som en højtidelig pligt at illustrere Kristi lære i deres karakter ved at have fred med hverandre og handle i fuldkommen harmoni som et udelt hele. De bør lade deres personlige skøn bøje sig for menighedslegemets skøn. Mange lever for sig selv. De betragter deres liv med stor tilfredshed og smigrer sig med, at de er ulastelige, medens de i virkeligheden ikke gør noget for Gud og lever i åbenbar strid med hans udtrykkelige ord. Overholdelsen af ydre former vil aldrig afhjælpe den store mangel i menneskesjælen. En bekendelse af Kristus er ikke nok til at sætte nogen i stand til at bestå prøven på dommens dag. Der bør være en fuldkommen fortrøstning til Gud, en hellig tillid til hans forjættelse og en fuld hengivelse under hans vilje.