The acquisition of property becomes a mania with some. Every time the golden rule is violated, Christ is abused in the person of His saints. Every advantage that is taken of fellow mortals, be they saints or sinners, will stand as fraud in the Ledger of Heaven. God designed that our lives should represent the life of our great Pattern in doing good to others and in acting a holy part in the elevation of man. About this work there hovers a true dignity and a glory which may never be seen and realized in this life, but which will be fully appreciated in the future life. The record of kindly deeds and generous actions will reach into eternity. Just to the extent that man would advantage himself at the disadvantage of his fellow man will his soul become calloused to the influence of the Spirit of God. Gain obtained thus is a fearful loss. {4T 490.2}

For nogle bliver ejendomserhvervelse til vanvid. Hver gang den gyldne regel overtrædes, bliver Kristus mishandlet i skikkelse af hans hellige. Hvert skridt fremad, der tages af medmennesker, hellige som syndere, vil stå som bedrageri i Himmelens protokol. Gud har udtænkt at vore liv skal repræsentere vort store Forbilledes liv, med at gøre godt mod andre og gøre noget helligt til menneskers ophøjelse. Dette arbejde er omgivet af en sand værdighed og en herlighed, som aldrig kan ses og erkendes i dette liv, men som vil fattes til fulde i det fremtidige liv. Optegnelsen af venlige gerninger og generøse handlinger vil nå ud i evigheden. I det omfang et menneske gør udnyttelse, til sine medmenneskers ulempe, vil dets sjæl forhærdes mod Guds Ånds indflydelse. Vinding, opnået herved, er et frygteligt tab.