God has ordained that in order to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Christ, men must follow His example and work as He worked. It will often require a struggle to control our own feelings and to refrain from speaking in a manner to discourage those who are laboring under temptation. A life of daily prayer and praise, a life which will shed light upon the path of others, cannot be maintained without earnest effort. But such effort will yield precious fruit, blessing not only the receiver, but the giver. The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christlike loveliness to the character and brings peace and happiness to its possessor. The aspirations are elevated. There is no room for sloth or selfishness. Those who exercise the Christian graces will grow. They will have spiritual sinew and muscle, and will be strong to work for God. They will have clear spiritual perceptions, a steady, increasing faith, and prevailing power in prayer. Those who are watching for souls, who devote themselves most fully to the salvation of the erring, are most surely working out their own salvation. {5T 606.3}

Det smerter mig, når jeg ser mænd blive rost, smigret og kælet for. Gud har åbenbaret den kendsgerning for mig, at nogle, der er genstand for sådan opmærksomhed, er uværdige til at tage hans navn på deres læber; og dog hæves de til skyerne af skrøbelige mennesker, der kun kan dømme efter det ydre udseende. Mine søstre, befat jer aldrig med at gøre væsen af og at smigre arme, fejlende, vildfarende mænd, hverken unge eller gamle, gifte eller ugifte. I kender ikke deres svagheder og I ved ikke, om ikke netop disse opmærksomheder og denne overstrømmende ros måske kan vise sig at blive deres ruin. Jeg er forfærdet over den kortsynethed og den mangel på klogskab, mange lægger for dagen i denne henseende.