"Get Ready “Behold, I come quickly,” Christ declares; “and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12 . The Lord at His coming will scrutinize every talent; He will demand interest on the capital He has entrusted. By His own humiliation and agony, by His life of toil and His death of shame, Christ has paid for the service of all who have taken His name and profess to be His servants. All are under deepest obligation to improve every capability for the work of winning souls to Him. “Ye are not your own,” He says; “for ye are bought with a price;” therefore glorify God by a life of service that will win men and women from sin to righteousness. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 . We are bought with the price of Christ's own life, bought that we may return to God His own in faithful service. 9T 104"
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
EGW directly quotes Revelation 22:12, making it an explicit allusion.
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
EGW directly quotes 1 Corinthians 6:20 and builds upon it, making it an explicit allusion.
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The EGW passage directly references the concept of talents and accountability, echoing the parable in Matthew 25. It emphasizes the need to use one's abilities for God's service, drawing a clear parallel to the parable's message.
"We have no time now to give our energies and talents to worldly enterprises. Shall we become absorbed in serving the world, serving ourselves, and lose eternal life and the everlasting bliss of heaven? Oh, we cannot afford to do this! Let every talent be employed in the work of God. Those who receive the truth are, by their efforts, to increase the number of men and women who shall be laborers together with God. Souls are to be enlightened and taught to serve God intelligently; they are to be continually increasing in the knowledge of righteousness. 9T 104.2"
"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."
The EGW passage warns against focusing on worldly pursuits at the expense of eternal life, which aligns with the principle in Matthew 6:19-21 about laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Both passages emphasize prioritizing spiritual investments over material ones.
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Both passages emphasize the importance of making the most of the present time and not wasting it on worldly pursuits. Ephesians 5:15-16 urges believers to redeem the time, while the EGW passage stresses the urgency of using talents for God's work now.
"All heaven is interested in the carrying forward of the work that Christ came to the world to do. Heavenly agencies are opening ways for the light of truth to shine to the dark places of the earth. Angels are waiting to communicate to those who will take hold of the work that has been pointed out to us for years. Shall we not manifest an interest to set in operation ways and means for the opening up of city work? Many opportunities have been lost through neglecting to do this work at once, through failing to go forward in faith. The Lord says: “Had you exercised faith in the messages I have sent, there would not be such a lack of workers and of means for their support.” 9T 104.3"
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
The EGW passage speaks of heavenly agencies and angels being involved in the work of spreading truth, which aligns with the concept in Hebrews 1:14 of angels being ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. Both passages highlight the active role of angels in God's plan.
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
The EGW passage discusses the interest of heaven in the work of Christ, while Luke 15:10 speaks of the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. Both passages suggest a connection between heavenly beings and the salvation of individuals, although the EGW passage has a broader focus on the overall work of Christ.