The selfishness which exists among God’s people is very offensive to Him. The Scriptures denounce covetousness as idolatry. No “covetous man,” says Paul, “who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” The trouble with many is that they have too little faith. Like the rich man in the parable they want to see their supplies piled up in their granaries. The world is to be warned, and God wants us wholly engaged in His work; but men have so much to do to forward their money-making projects that they have no time to push the triumphs of the cross of Christ. They have neither time nor disposition to put their intellect, tact, and energy into the cause of God. {5T 270.2}

Den selviskhed som er iblandt Guds folk er meget krænkende over for Gud. Skriften anklager begærlighed for at være afgudsdyrkelse. »ingen ... havesyg,« siger Paulus, »det er det samme som en afgudsdyrker har lod og del i Kristi og Guds rige.« Problemerne med mange, er at de har for lidt tro. ligesom den rige mand i lignelsen, mangler de at se deres beholdninger hobet op i deres kornlagre. Verden skal advares og Gud ønsker at vi skal være helt engagerede i hans arbejde, men mennesker har så meget at gøre med at fremme deres pengeindbringene projekter at de ikke har tid til at fremskynde Kristi kors' sejre. De har hverken tid eller temperament til at bruge deres forstand, taktfasthed og kræfter på Guds sag.