Elder C lost his influence and the power of the truth by engaging in speculations, and that out of his brethren. This was peculiarly offensive to God in a minister of Christ. But you have done the same. You have made Elder C’s course an excuse for your love of traffic. You have justified your course of advantaging yourself, because other ministers have pursued this course. Other ministers are no criterion for you. If they injure their influence, and deprive themselves of the approbation of God and the confidence of their brethren, their course should be shunned. Christ is your example, and you have no excuse for taking the course of erring men for example unless their lives are in accordance with the life of Christ. Your influence will be death to the cause of God if you continue to pursue the course that you have pursued for a few years past. Your trafficking and trading, and gathering up from your brethren means that you have not earned, is a great sin in the sight of God. (2T 622.1) MC VC

Some have really deprived themselves of means necessary for the comfort of their families, and some of even the necessaries of life, to help you, and you have received it. Paul writes to his Philippian brethren: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 2:5) “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4. He also writes to his Corinthian brethren: “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” 1 Corinthians 10:24. Again, he mournfully says: “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Philippians 2:21. (2T 622.2) MC VC