"I have been shown that Brother R is an indolent man. He loves his pleasure and his ease. He does not love physical labor, neither does he love close application of the mind to the study of the word. He wants to take things lazily. He will go to a place and attempt to introduce the truth there, when his heart is not in it. He feels no weight of the work, no real burden for souls. He has not the love of souls at heart. He lets his inclinations divert him from the work, suffers his feelings to control him, and leaves the work and goes back to his family. He has not an experience in self-denial, in sacrificing his ease and his inclinations. He labors too much with respect to wages. He does not apply himself closely to his work, but merely touches it here and there without perseverance or earnestness, and so makes a success of nothing. God frowns upon all such professed workers. They are unfaithful in everything. Their consciences are not sensitive and tender. 3T 555.1"
"As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed."
Both passages describe the characteristics of a slothful person. Proverbs 26:14 uses the image of a door turning on its hinges to illustrate the inactivity of a sluggard, while EGW describes Brother R's indolence and lack of dedication to his work. The core theme of laziness and aversion to work connects them strongly.
"essential in these places. If matters go hard, if opposition arises, he makes a cowardly retreat instead of fleeing to God with fasting and praying and weeping, and by faith clinging to the Source of light and power and strength until the clouds break away and the darkness disperses. Faith grows strong by coming in conflict with doubts and opposing influences. The experience gained in these trials is of more value than the most costly jewels. 3T 555.2"
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
Both passages discuss the value of trials and opposition in developing faith and strength. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to count trials as joy because they produce patience, while EGW emphasizes that faith grows strong through conflict and that the experience gained in trials is valuable. The shared theme of trials leading to spiritual growth justifies the connection.
The result of your labors, Brother R, should make you ashamed. God cannot accept them. It would be better for the cause of God if you would cease preaching, and take up a work which involves less responsibility. It would be better for you to go to work with your hands. Humble your heart before God; be faithful in temporal matters; and when you show that you are faithful in the smaller responsibilities, God may commit to you higher trusts. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” You need a deeper experience in religious things. I advise you to go to work with your hands and earnestly plead with God for an experience for yourself. Cling to Jesus and never, never dare to assume the responsibilities of a gospel minister until you are a converted man and have a meek and peaceable spirit. You need to tarry away from the work of God till you are endowed with power from on high. No man can make a success …
"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."
The EGW passage directly quotes Luke 16:10, making it an explicit allusion. The context in both passages relates to faithfulness in small matters being indicative of faithfulness in larger responsibilities.