The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven; the spirit of selfishness is the spirit of Satan. Christ’s self-sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. He gave all He had, and then gave Himself, that man might be saved. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. This, carried out in actual benevolence and good works, is the true fruit of the Christian life. The principle of worldlings is to get, get, and thus they expect to secure happiness; but, carried out in all its bearings, the fruit is misery and death. {4T 79.4}

Gavmildhedens ånd er himmelens ånd; egenkærlighedens (80) ånd er Satans ånd. Kristi selvopofrende kærlighed åbenbares på korset. Han gav alt, hvad han havde, ja, endog sig selv, for at mennesket kunne blive frelst. Kristi kors appellerer til godgørenhed hos enhver, som følger den velsignede frelser. Det princip, som her illustreres, er at give, give. Gennemført i praktisk godgørenhed og gode gerninger er dette den sande frugt af kristenlivet. Verdslige menneskers princip er at få, få og derved venter de at sikre sig lykke; men når dette gennemføres i sin yderste konsekvens, bliver frugten deraf elendighed og død.