"Do not educate your children to think that your love for them must be expressed by indulgence of their pride, extravagance, and love of display. There is no time now to invent ways for using up money. Use your inventive faculties in seeking to economize. Instead of gratifying selfish inclination, spending money for those things that destroy the reasoning faculties, study how to deny self, that you may have something to invest in lifting the standard of truth in new fields. The intellect is a talent; use it in studying how best to employ your means for the salvation of souls. 6T 451.1"
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
EGW's statement directly echoes the principle of Matthew 6:19-21, urging readers to invest in eternal treasures rather than earthly ones. Both passages emphasize the importance of using resources for spiritual purposes rather than selfish indulgence.
"Teach your children that God has a claim upon all they possess, a claim that nothing can ever cancel; whatever they have is theirs only in trust as a test of their obedience. Inspire them with ambition to gain stars for their crown by winning many souls from sin to righteousness. 6T 451.2"
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:"
Both passages connect earthly possessions with heavenly rewards. EGW speaks of gaining 'stars for their crown' by winning souls, while Matthew 6:20 speaks of laying up treasures in heaven. The underlying principle is that actions on earth have eternal consequences.
"Money is a needed treasure; let it not be lavished upon those who do not need it. Someone needs your willing gifts. Too often those who have means fail to consider how many in the world are hungry, starving for food. They may say: “I cannot feed them all.” But by practicing Christ's lessons on economy you can feed one. It may be that you can feed many who are hungering for temporal food. And you can feed their souls with the bread of life. “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” John 6:12 . These words were spoken by Him who had all the resources of the universe at His command; while His miracle-working power supplied thousands with food, He did not disdain to teach a lesson in economy. 6T 451.3"
"When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."
EGW directly quotes John 6:12 and uses the context of the miracle of feeding the 5000 to illustrate the principle of economy and avoiding waste. This is a clear and intentional reference.
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Both passages emphasize the importance of helping those in need. EGW's passage speaks of feeding the hungry, while Matthew 25:40 states that helping the least of Jesus's brethren is equivalent to helping Jesus himself. The connection lies in the call to practical compassion and service.