Dear brother, you have neglected to heed the testimonies of warning given you years ago showing you that the enemy was upon your track to open before you the charms of this world, urging you to choose earthly treasure and sacrifice the heavenly reward. Brother E, you cannot afford to do this; there is too much at stake. “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” You are selling your soul at a cheap market. You cannot afford to make this great sacrifice. God has entrusted talents to your stewardship. They are your means and your influence. He wishes to test and prove you. You should have lost no time, but should have commenced immediately to increase your Master’s store. Had you done this, your success would have been equal to your industry, perseverance, and zeal in applying the capital placed in your hands; your talents or influence—setting aside the means which you could have called to your aid—would have turned many souls from error to truth and righteousness. These souls would have labored for others, and thus influence and means would have constantly increased and multiplied in the Master’s cause; and for the faithful improvement of your talents you would have heard from the Master the most gracious words that shall ever fall upon the ear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” {4T 46.1}

Kære bror, du har ikke givet agt på de advarsels-vidnesbyrd du fik for nogle år siden og viste at fjenden var på spor af dig og ville åbne denne verdens glans for dig og få dig til at vælge jordiske rigdomme og ofre den himmelske belønning. Bror E, du har ikke råd til dette; der er for meget på spil. »Thi hvad gavner det et menneske at vinde den hele verden og at bøde med sin sjæl? Thi hvad kan et menneske give til vederlag for sin sjæl?« Du sælger din sjæl på et billigt marked. Du kan ikke tillade dig at gøre dette store offer. Gud har betroet dig talenter at forvalte. De er dine midler og din indflydelse. Han ønsker at forsøge og prøve dig. Du burde ikke miste tid, men burde straks begynde på at forøge din Mesters forråd. Var du begyndt på dette, ville din succes svare til din flid, udholdenhed og iver for at anvende den kapital du fik i hænderne, dine talenter eller indflydelse - idet du sætter dine midler til side, som du kunne være hjulpet ved - ville det have vendt mange sjæle fra vildfarelse til sandhed og retfærdighed. Disse sjæle ville have arbejdet for andre og derved ville indflydelsen og midlerne hele tiden have forøget og mangedoblet sig i Mesterens sag; og for den tro forbedres dine talenter, så vil du høre de nådigste ord fra Mesteren som nogensinde kan kommer for øret: »Vel, du gode og tro tjener, du har været tro over lidt, jeg vil sætte dig over meget; gå ind til din herres glæde."