Brethren in -----, you do not realize your obligation to God and the individual work He has given you to perform for Him. You have the theory of the truth, but do not feel its power in the soul. The barren fig tree flaunted its pretentious branches in the face of heaven; but when the search for fruit was made by the Redeemer, lo, there was nothing but leaves. Unless there is a thorough work wrought for you as individuals and as a church, the curse of God will as surely come upon you as it fell upon that fruitless tree. {4T 614.1}

Brødre i ___, I indser ikke jeres forpligtelse over for Gud og det personlige arbejde han har givet jer at gøre for ham. I har sandhedens teori, men mærker ikke dets kraft på sjælen. Det golde figentræ rakte sine fordringsfulde grene mod himmelen; men Forløseren selv søgte efter frugter og se, der var intet andet end blade. Hvis der ikke gøres et grundigt arbejde for jer som enkeltpersoner og som en menighed, vil Guds forbandelse med sikkerhed komme over jer, som den faldt over det frugtløse træ.