Men’s hearts are no softer today than when Christ was upon the earth. They will do all in their power to aid the great adversary in making it as hard as possible for the servants of Christ, just as the people did with Christ when He was upon the earth. They will scourge with the tongue of slander and falsehood. They will criticize, and turn against the servant of God the very efforts he is leading them to make. They will, with their evil surmisings, see fraud and dishonesty where all is right and where perfect integrity exists. They lay selfish motives to the charge of God’s servants, when He Himself is leading them, and when they would give even their lives if God required, if by so doing they could advance His cause. They who have done the least, and made the least investment in the cause of truth, are the most forward to express lack of faith in the integrity of the servants of God who are placed in a position to bear financial responsibilities in the great work. They who have confidence in the work of God are willing to venture something for its advancement, and their spiritual prosperity will be in proportion to their works of faith. God’s word is our standard, but how few follow it! Our religion will be of but little worth to our fellow men if it is only theoretical and not practical. The influence of the world and of selfishness is carried about by many who profess to be following the Bible. They are like a cloud, chilling the atmosphere in which others move. {4T 234.2}

I dag er menneskers hjerter ikke blødere, end da Kristus var på jorden. De vil gøre alt i deres magt for at hjælpe den store fjende i at gøre det så svært så muligt for Kristi tjenere, præcis som folk gjorde med Kristus, da han var på jorden. De vil piske med bagtalelsens og falskhedens tunge. De vil kritisere og de anstengelser som Guds tjener leder dem til at gøre, de vender imod ham. De vil med deres onde gætterier, se bedrageri og uærlighed, hvor alt er rigtigt og hvor der er fuldkommen renhed. De tillægger Guds tjenere egenkærlige motiver, skønt Gud selv leder dem og skønt de faktisk selv burde give deres liv hvis Gud forlangte det og derved kunne fremme Guds sag. De som har gjort det mindste og givet den mindste indsats i sandhedens sag, er de hurtigste til at udtrykke trosmangel i Guds tjeneres renhed, som er sat til at bære finansielle ansvar i det store arbejde. De som har tillid til Guds arbejde er villige til at vove noget for dets fremme og (235) deres åndelige velstand vil stå i forhold til deres gerninger i tro. Guds ord er vor norm, men hvor få følger det! Vor religion vil kun have lidt værdi for vore medmennesker, hvis den kun er teoretisk og ikke praktisk. Verdens og egenkærlighedens indflydelse føres omkring af mange, som bekender at følge bibelen. De er ligesom en sky, der afkøler den atmosfære andre bevæger sig i.