Unless this church shall arouse from their lethargy and shake off the spirit of the world, they will mourn when, too late, they find their opportunities and privileges lost, lost forever. The Lord sometimes tests His people with prosperity in temporal things. But He intends that they shall make a right use of His gifts. Their property, their time, their strength, and their opportunities are all of God. For all these blessings they must account to the Giver. While want and destitution are seen among our brethren, and we withhold relief from them when our own necessities are supplied, we neglect a plain duty revealed in the word of God. He gives to us liberally that we may give to others. It is beneficence that overcomes selfishness and ennobles and purifies the soul. Some abuse the talents given them of God; they close their eyes that they may not see the necessities of His cause and turn away their ears that they may not hear His voice showing them their duty to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Some who profess to be children of God seem anxious to invest their means in the world lest it shall return to the Giver in gifts and offerings. They forget their divine mission, and if they continue to follow the dictates of their selfish hearts, and expend precious time and means to gratify their pride, God will send reverses, and they will feel pinching want because of their ingratitude. He will entrust His talents to more faithful stewards, who will acknowledge His claims upon them. {4T 619.2}

Hvis menigheden ikke vågner op af deres døsighed og ryster verdens ånd af sig, vil de sørge når de, for sent, finder ud af deres anledninger og privilegier er tabt, - tabt for evigt. Herren prøver nogle gange sit folk med velstand i timelige sager. Men har i sinde at de skal gøre ret brug af hans gaver. Deres ejendom, deres tid, deres styrke og deres anledninger alle Guds. For alle disse velsignelser må gøre regnskab for Giveren. Når der ses mangler og fattigdom blandt vore brødre og vi tilbageholder dem vor hjælp, medens vore egne nødvendigheder dækkes, forsømmer vi en tydelig pligt, åbenbaret i Guds ord. Han giver os rundhåndet, så vi kan give til andre. Det er godgørenheden som overvinder selviskheden og forædler og renser sjælen. Nogle misbruger de talenter de har fået af Gud; de lukker deres øjne så de ikke kan se det fornødne i hans sag og vender deres ører bort, så de ikke hører hans røst, der viser dem deres pligt i at føde (620) sultne og klæde nøgne. Nogle som bekender at være Guds synes at være ivrige efter at investere deres midler i verden, for at de ikke skal vende tilbage til Giveren i gaver og ofringer. De har glemt deres guddommelige mission og hvis de fortsætter med at følge deres selviske hjerters befalinger og bruger kostbar tid og midler på at tilfredsstille deres stolthed, vil Gud sende modgang og de vil mærke den trykkende mangel på grund af deres utaknemlighed. Han vil betro sine talenter til mere trofaste forvaltere, som vil anerkende sine krav på dem.