"Self is mingled too much with all your labors. Your will must be molded by God's will, or you will fall into grievous temptations. I saw that when you labor in God, putting self out of sight, you will realize a strength from Him which will give you access to hearts. Angels of God will work with your efforts when you are humble and little in your own eyes. But when you think you know more than those whom God has been leading for years, and whom He has been instructing in the truth and fitting for the extension of His work, you are self- exalted and will fall into temptations. 3T 417.1"
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of humility and putting self aside, which is central to Philippians 2:3. The emphasis on avoiding vainglory and esteeming others aligns strongly with the biblical verse.
"You need to cultivate kindness and tenderness. You need to be pitiful and courteous. Your labors savor too much of severity and an exacting, dictatorial, overbearing spirit. You are not always kindly considerate of the feelings of others, and you create trials and dissatisfaction needlessly. More love in your labors, and more kindly sympathy, would give you access to hearts and would win souls to Christ and the truth. 3T 417.2"
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:"
The EGW passage closely reflects the virtues listed in 1 Peter 3:8, such as kindness, tenderness, compassion, and courtesy. The emphasis on these qualities as essential for effective ministry aligns directly with the biblical instruction.
"You are constantly inclined to individual independence. You do not realize that independence is a poor thing when it leads you to have too much confidence in yourself and to trust to your own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly estimate the judgment of your brethren, especially of those in the offices which God has appointed for the saving of His people. God has invested His church with special authority and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising, for in so doing he despises the voice of God. 3T 417.3"
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
The EGW passage emphasizes the importance of respecting and obeying those in leadership within the church, which directly reflects the instruction in Hebrews 13:17 to obey and submit to those who have the rule over you.