"Business Matters As far as possible, our camp-meetings should be wholly devoted to spiritual interests. They should not be made occasions for the transaction of business. Workers are gathered from all parts of the field, and it seems a favorable opportunity for considering business matters connected with the various branches of the work, and for the training of workers in different lines. GW 402"
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The passage advocates prioritizing spiritual interests over business matters, reflecting the principle of seeking first the kingdom of God.
"Those who have become interested have to meet sophistry and misrepresentation from popular ministers, and they know not how to answer these things. The truth presented by the living preacher should be published in as compact a form as possible, and circulated widely. So far as practicable, let the important discourses given at our camp-meetings be published in the newspapers. Thus the truth which was placed before a limited number may find access to many minds. And where the truth has been misrepresented, the people will have an opportunity of knowing just what the minister said.... GW 402.1"
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
The passage emphasizes the need for people to have access to truth in order to discern and refute misrepresentations, similar to the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily.
"All these interests are important, but when they are attended to at a camp-meeting, but little opportunity remains for dealing with the practical relation of truth to the soul. Ministers are diverted from their work of building up the children of God in the most holy faith, and the camp-meeting does not meet the end for which it was appointed. GW 402.3"
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The passage emphasizes the importance of ministers focusing on prayer and the ministry of the word, rather than being diverted by other matters.