Doing nothing to bring souls to Jesus, who sacrificed everything to bring salvation within our reach! Selfishness is driving benevolence and the love of Christ from the church. Millions of the Lord’s money are squandered in the gratification of worldly lust, while His treasury is left empty. I know not how to present this matter before you as it was presented to me. Thousands of dollars are spent every year in gratifying pride of dress. That very means should be used in our missions. I was shown families who load their tables with almost every luxury and gratify almost every desire for fine clothes. They are engaged in a prosperous business, or are earning good wages, but nearly every dollar is expended upon themselves or their families. Is this imitating Christ? What burden do these feel to carefully economize and deny inclination that they may do more to advance the work of God on earth? Should Elder Andrews have the advantage of some of the means thus needlessly expended, it would be a great blessing to him and give him advantages which would prolong his life. The missionary work might be enlarged a hundredfold if there were more means to employ in carrying out larger plans. But the means which God designed should be used for this very purpose is expended for articles which are thought necessary to comfort and happiness, and which there might be no sin in possessing were not means so greatly needed in extending the truth. How many of you, my brethren, are seeking your own and not the things which are Jesus Christ’s! {5T 205.1}

Gør intet for at bringe sjæle til Jesus, som ofrede alt for at få frelsen inden for vor rækkevidde. Selviskhed driver godgørenhed og Kristi kærlighed bort fra menigheden. Millioner af Herrens penge formøbles på at tilfredsstille verdslige lyster, medens hans skatkammer efterlades tomt. Jeg ved ikke hvordan dette skal overbringes jer, sådan som det blev overbragt mig. Tusindvis dollars bruges hvert år på at tilfredsstille stoltheden for klæder. Disse midler burde bruges på vore missioner. Jeg fik vist familier, som fyldte deres borde med al luksus og stiller næsten alle ønsker for fine klæder. De har en god forretning, eller tjener god løn, men næsten alle dollar bruges på dem selv eller deres familier. Er dette at efterligne Kristus? Hvilken byrde har disse for at økonomisere omhyggeligt og fornægte tilbøjeligheden, så de kan gøre mere for Guds værks fremme på jorden? Fik ældre Andrews gavn af nogle af de midler, der bruges så unødigt, ville det være en stor velsignelse for ham og give ham muligheder som ville forlænge hans liv. Missionsarbejdet ville blive forstørret hundrede gange, hvis der var flere midler til at gennemføre de større planer. Men de midler som Gud havde planlagt skulle bruges til dette, bruges i stedet for på ting, som anses for nødvendige til behagelighed og lykke og som der ikke er nogen synd i at have, hvor der ikke er så meget brug for midler til sandhedsudbredelse. Hvor mange af jer, mine brødre, søger jeres eget og ikke de ting, som hører Kristus til?!