Some of these men who have marked deformities of character have strong, decided opinions and are unyielding when it would be Christlike to yield to others whose love for the cause of truth is just as deep as their own. Such persons need to cultivate opposite traits of character and to learn to esteem others better than themselves. When they become connected with an important enterprise, where great designs are to be worked out, they should be careful lest their own peculiar ideas and special traits of character have an unfavorable influence on its development. The Lord saw the danger that would result from one man’s mind and judgment controlling decisions and working out plans, and in His Inspired Word we are commanded to be subject one to another and to esteem others better than ourselves. When plans are to be laid that will affect the cause of God, they should be brought before a council composed of chosen men of experience; for harmony of effort is essential in all these enterprises. {5T 418.2}

Nogle af disse mænd, som har markante karakterdeformiteter har stærke, afgjorte meninger og er uovergivede, selvom det ville være Kristus-ligende at overgive det til andre, hvis kærlighed for sandhedens sag er ligeså dyb som hos dem. Sådanne personer behøver at opelske modsatte karaktertræk og lære at værdsætte andre højere end de selv. Når de knyttes til en vigtig virksomhed, hvor store planer skal udføres, bør de være forsigtige for at deres egne specielle idéer og særlige karaktertræk ikke har en ugunstig indflydelse på dens udvikling. Herren så den fare der ville komme af at ét menneskes tankegang og dømmekraft skulle styre beslutningerne og gennemførelsen af planerne og i sit inspirerede ord, er vi pålagt at underlægger hinanden og værdsætte andre bedre end os selv. Når planer lægges, vil det påvirke Guds sag, de bør bringes frem for et råd, bestående af udvalgte erfarne mænd; for harmonien i arbejdet er absolut nødvendig i disse virksomheder.