Suppose that a sum of money were placed in your hands to invest for a certain purpose; would you throw it away and declare that you were not now responsible for its use? would you feel that you had saved yourself a great care? Yet this is what you have been doing with the gifts of God. To excuse yourself from working for others on the plea of inability, while you are all absorbed in worldly pursuits, is mockery of God. Multitudes are going down to ruin; the people who have received light and truth are but as a handful to withstand all the host of evil; and yet this little company are devoting their energies to anything and everything but to learning how they may rescue souls from death. Is it any marvel that the church is weak and inefficient, that God can do but little for His professed people? They place themselves where it is impossible for Him to work with them and for them. Dare you continue thus to disregard His claims? Will you still trifle with heaven’s most sacred trusts? Will you say with Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” {5T 458.3}

Antag, at et pengebeløb blev lagt i dine hænder, for at du skulle bruge det til et vist formål; ville du så kaste det bort og gøre gældende, at nu var du ikke ansvarlig for dets anvendelse? Ville du føle, at du havde befriet dig for en bekymring? Men dette er, hvad du har gjort med Guds gaver. At du holder dig undskyldt for arbejde for andre under påberåbelse af udygtighed, medens du er helt optaget med verdslige sysler, er at drive spot med Gud. Skarer af mennesker går nedad til fordærvelse; det folk, der har fået lyset og sandheden, er kun som en håndfuld til at gøre modstand mod hele ondskabens (459) hær; men denne lille skare bruger sine kræfter til alt og hvad som helst undtagen til at lære, hvordan de kan redde sjæle fra døden. Er det underligt, at menigheden er svag og udygtig og at Gud kun kan gøre lidt for dem, der bekender sig til at være hans folk? De stiller sig, hvor det er umuligt for ham at arbejde med dem og for dem. Tør du vedblivende ringeagte hans krav? Vil du fremdeles lege med himmelens allerhelligste tillidshverv? Vil du sige med Kain: »Skal jeg vogte min broder?"