"The disciples were the channel of communication between Christ and the people. This should be a great encouragement to His disciples today. Christ is the great center, the source of all strength. His disciples are to receive their supplies from Him. The most intelligent, the most spiritually minded, can bestow only as they receive. Of themselves they can supply nothing for the needs of the soul. We can impart only that which we receive from Christ; and we can receive only as we impart to others. As we continue imparting, we continue to receive; and the more we impart, the more we shall receive. Thus we may be constantly believing, trusting, receiving, and imparting. DA 370.1"
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
The EGW passage elaborates on the principle that believers are dependent on Christ for their ability to do good, mirroring the vine and branches analogy in John 15:5. The phrase 'without me ye can do nothing' is a clear parallel to the idea that disciples receive their supplies from Christ.
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;"
Both passages emphasize that our ability and sufficiency come from God, not from ourselves. The EGW passage expands on this principle by stating that 'Of themselves they can supply nothing for the needs of the soul,' which aligns with the sentiment in 2 Corinthians 3:5 that 'our sufficiency is of God.'
"The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward, though to all appearance it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to testify against advance. The work is of God, and He will furnish means, and will send helpers, true, earnest disciples, whose hands also will be filled with food for the starving multitude. God is not unmindful of those who labor in love to give the word of life to perishing souls, who in their turn reach forth their hands for food for other hungry souls. DA 370.2"
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Both passages deal with the need for laborers in God's work and the provision God makes for them. EGW amplifies the idea of God sending helpers and providing for their needs, echoing the sentiment in Matthew 9:37-38.
"In our work for God there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his talents and ability can do. Thus we lose sight of the one Master Worker. Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations, instead of relying upon Him who is the source of all strength. It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose, the true simplicity of earnest, dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ. In the place of shifting your responsibility upon someone whom you think more richly endowed than you are, work according to your ability. DA 370.3"
"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."
The EGW passage emphasizes reliance on God's power rather than human ability, echoing the core message of Zechariah 4:6: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.' The principle of divine empowerment over human strength is central to both passages.
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
Both passages highlight the importance of God's role in the success of ministry. 1 Corinthians 3:6 illustrates this with the analogy of planting, watering, and God giving the increase, while EGW warns against relying solely on human talent and ability.
"When the question comes home to your heart, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” let not your answer be the response of unbelief. When the disciples heard the Saviour's direction, “Give ye them to eat,” all the difficulties arose in their minds. They questioned, Shall we go away into the villages to buy food? So now, when the people are destitute of the bread of life, the Lord's children question, Shall we send for someone from afar, to come and feed them? But what said Christ? “Make the men sit down,” and He fed them there. So when you are surrounded by souls in need, know that Christ is there. Commune with Him. Bring your barley loaves to Jesus. DA 370.4"
"But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat."
The EGW passage directly quotes and expands upon the Matthew 14:16 verse, drawing parallels between the disciples' situation and contemporary situations.