Demas was now a faithful helper of the apostle. A few years afterward, however, in the same letter to Timothy which commends Mark’s fidelity, Paul writes, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” For worldly gain, Demas bartered every higher and nobler consideration. How short-sighted, how unwise the exchange! Those who possess only worldly wealth or honor are poor indeed, however much they may proudly call their own. Those who choose to suffer for Christ’s sake, will win eternal riches; they will be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with his Son. They may not have on earth a place to lay their heads; but in Heaven the Saviour whom they love is preparing mansions for them. Many, in their pride and ignorance, forget that lowly things are mighty. In order to be happy, we must learn self-denial at the foot of the cross. We want no earthly hope so firmly rooted that we cannot transplant it to paradise. {LP 283.1}

Demas var en nyttig hjælper for apostlen. Nogle få år senere, i det samme brev til Timotius, som kommenterer Markus nytteevne, skriver Paulus dog: " Demas forlod mig af kærlighed til den nuværende verden". For verdslig vindings skyld tiltvang Demas al højere og ædlere agtelse Hvor kortsynet, hvilken uklogt bytte! Dem som kun besidder verdslig velstand eller ære er i virkeligheden fattige, uanset hvor meget de så stolt kan kalde for deres eget. Dem som vælger at lide for Kristi skyld, vil vinde evige rigdomme; de vil være Guds arvinger, og hans søns medarvinger. Da har ikke noget sted på jorden at ligge deres hoveder; men i himlen bereder Frelseren som de elsker, boliger til dem. I deres stolthed og uvidenhed, glemmer mange at beskidne ting er store. For at blive lykkelig må vi lære selvfornægteelse ved korsets fod. Vi ønsker intet jordisk håb så rodfæstet at vi ikke kan omplante det til paradiset.