"Had you been seeking to show yourselves approved unto God, seeking the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness of Christ, you would have been doing the works of Christ. The poor, the widows, the fatherless, would have called forth from you the tenderest pity and sympathy; you would have been interested in them and treated them as you would wish your wife and children treated were they left dependent and afflicted to the cold mercies of the world or of unfeeling, heartless professed Christians. There has been on your part a sad, unfeeling, heartless neglect of the unfortunate. You have served your own interest, irrespective of their great need. God cannot bless you until you see your sin in regard to these things. 2T 570.1"
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The EGW passage directly contrasts seeking the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness of Christ with neglecting the poor, widows, and fatherless. This aligns with the principle of Matthew 6:33, where seeking God first leads to other blessings and actions.
"I saw that the Lord's work has not been more sacred in your eyes than your own business. Eternal things have not been discerned. The Lord has sent warnings and reproofs to arouse you to a sense of your duty by letting you know what is expected of you, but you have not regarded these warnings. You have not realized that you were dealing with God. You have robbed God and served yourselves. 2T 570.2"
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
The EGW passage accuses the individuals of robbing God by prioritizing their own business and neglecting their duty. This echoes the accusation in Malachi 3:8, where the people are accused of robbing God in tithes and offerings. The parallel lies in the concept of withholding what is due to God.