"Ministers and Commercial Business Ministers cannot do acceptable work for God, and at the same time carry the burden of large personal business enterprises. Such a division of interest dims their spiritual perception. The mind and heart are occupied with earthly things, and the service of Christ takes a second place. They seek to shape their work for God by their circumstances, instead of shaping circumstances to meet the demands of God. GW 339"
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
EGW's statement directly reflects the principle of Matthew 6:24, that one cannot serve both God and worldly pursuits. She applies it specifically to ministers and commercial business.
"The energies of the minister are all needed for his high calling. His best powers belong to God. He should not engage in speculation, or in any other business that would turn him aside from his great work. “No man that warreth,” Paul declared, “entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” [ 2 Timothy 2:4 .] Thus the apostle emphasized the minister's need of unreserved consecration to the Master's service. GW 339.2"
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
EGW directly quotes 2 Timothy 2:4 to support her point about a minister's dedication.
"The minister who is wholly consecrated to God refuses to engage in business that would hinder him from giving himself fully to his sacred calling. He is not striving for earthly honor or riches; his one purpose is to tell others of the Saviour, who gave Himself to bring to human beings the riches of eternal life. His highest desire is not to lay up treasure in this world, but to bring to the attention of the indifferent and disloyal the realities of eternity. He may be asked to engage in enterprises which promise large worldly gain, but to such temptations he returns the answer, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” [ Mark 8:36 .] GW 339.3"
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Ellen White directly references Mark 8:36 in this passage.
"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:"
While EGW quotes Mark 8:36, the overall theme of not prioritizing earthly treasures aligns with Matthew 6:19-20. Both passages encourage focusing on eternal rewards rather than worldly gain.