If you, my brother, had studied the Holy Scriptures as faithfully as you have watched to get gain, you would now be an able man in the word of God and able also to teach others. It is your own fault that you are not qualified to teach the truth to others. You have not been cultivating that set of faculties which will make you an intelligent, successful, spiritual worker for your Master. Such traits of character as acquisitiveness and shrewdness in worldly dealing have been exercised so much that your mind has been largely developed in the direction of buying and selling, and getting the best end of the bargain. Instead of establishing yourself in the confidence of your brethren and sisters and friends as a man who possesses true nobility of character, elevating you above all smallness and avariciousness, you make them afraid of you. Your religious faith has been used to secure the confidence of your brethren that you might practice your sharp dealing and make a saving. This has been done so much by you that it has become second nature, and you do not realize how your course appears to others. True godliness must mark all your future life and course of action if you would counteract the influence you have exerted to scatter from Christ and the truth. {4T 359.1}

Hvis du, min bror, havde studeret de hellige skrifter ligeså trofast som du havde sørget for vinding, ville du nu kunne være en mand i Guds ord og i stand til også at lære andre. Det er din egen fejl at du ikke er kvalificeret til at lære andre sandheden. Du har ikke opdyrket de evner som gør dig til en klog, resultatrig, åndelig arbejder for din Mester. Karaktertræk som bjærgsomhed og skarpsindighed i verdslige sager er blevet brugt så meget, at dine tanker er blevet udviklet til at købe, sælge og få det bedste ud af handlen. I stedet for at give tillidsfuldt til dine brødre og søstre og venner, som et menneske som besidder sand karakter-adel, ophøje dig over alle småting og havesyge, gør du dem bange for dig. Din religiøse tro er blevet brugt til at sikre dine brødres tillid, så du kan udøve din skrappe handlemåde og få fortjeneste. Dette har du gjort så meget at det er blevet næsten naturligt og du ser ikke hvordan din opførsel ser ud for andre. Sand gudfrygtighed må markere hele dit fremtidige liv og handlemåde hvis du vil modvirke den indflydelse du har spredt, fra Kristus og sandheden.