Many professed Christians of our time banish Jesus from them for the sake of worldly gain. They may not use the exact words of the Gadarenes, but their acts plainly indicate, that, in their various avocations, they do not desire his presence. The world is exalted above his mercy. The love of gain crowds out the love of Christ. They heed not his injunctions, they slight his reproofs. By dishonesty and avaricious scheming, they virtually petition the blessed Saviour to depart from them. {2SP 317.3}

Mange, som bekender sig til at være kristne på vor tid, viser Jesus bort fra sig for jordisk fordels skyld. De bruger måske ikke netop de samme ord som gadarenerne; (318) men deres handlinger vidner tydelig, at de ikke ønsker Jesu nærværelse i deres forskellige livsstillinger. Verden ophøjer sig over Guds nåde. Lyst til vinding driver Kristi kærlighed ud. De agter ikke på hans advarsler; de tilsidesætter hans tilrettevisninger. Ved uærlighed og pengegærrige planer beder de virkelig den kære Frelser om at drage bort fra sig.