4:71 Corinthians 4:7

Everything that sets one person apart from another and everything possessed — means, abilities, gifts, wisdom, skill, success and opportunity — was received from God as the Source of all efficiency, not made, earned or originated by self.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+2 In its setting it rebukes being puffed up for one minister against another, for the different labors of Paul and Apollos give no ground for taking sides, comparing workers or exalting one servant over another.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+2 Since what was possessed was received, there is no ground to glory as if it had not been received, to claim superiority, to judge a brother or to set a brother at naught with contempt.AA 276.1–3+3 Righteousness itself is received from God and not produced by human merit, and all abilities, talents, goods and influence are sacred trust lent for a time to be held in faithfulness, consecrated to his service and wisely employed to his glory and the benefit of others.7MR 319.1+4 God is the one who makes people to differ, so race, natural gifts, appearance and circumstances give no ground for boasting or partiality, but call for lowliness, humility and entire dependence on him while working diligently to improve what was received.STE 54.2+4

Everything that makes a person to differ from another and everything possessed was received and not made, earned or originated by self.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+4 Means, property, wisdom, abilities, gifts, skill, understanding, success, growth and opportunity came from God, from Christ and from the Master as the Source of all efficiency.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+4 No minister or physician has ground to glory as if means, property or wisdom were his own or to make his own course appear as possessing great wisdom, and no teacher should boast as though abilities originated in himself.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+2

In its setting the verse rebukes thinking of men above that which is written and being puffed up for one minister against another.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+4 Paul's different labor and Apollos's different labor give no ground for taking sides, comparing workers, becoming proud, exalting one servant over another, promoting preferred people or disparaging others.AA 276.1–3+3 Their different work leaves no room to claim superiority, to boast as though gifts and standing were one's own, or to claim credit as though gifts and abilities came from self.AA 276.1–3+2

The verse calls ministers of Christ stewards of the mysteries of God in whom faithfulness is required.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+2 Each steward handles the Master's property and goods in trust, holds gifts entrusted for a time, must keep them in order with great accountability to be found faithful, and will face consequences for eternal destiny in how faithfully they are used.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+2 He must keep his position untarnished by mean actions and mean dealing with fellow stewards and keep a conscience void of offense toward God and fellow men, not making human judgment or self-judgment the measure.Ms 25, 1906, par. 2–4+1

The surrounding passage counts human judgment and self-judgment a very small thing and forbids judging anything before the time until the Lord comes.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13+1 He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, when every man shall have praise of God.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13 It exposes human deficiencies before angels and men and rebukes those who are full and rich and reign as kings, while setting forth the apostles last as appointed to death, a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13+1

Since everything possessed was received rather than self-made, self-earned, or self-originated, there is no ground to glory as if it had not been received, to boast as though gifts, abilities, and standing were one's own, or to claim superiority over another.AA 276.1–3+3 Different work, as in the different labors of Paul and Apollos, gives no one cause to become proud, to exalt one servant over another, to compare believers in order to promote preferred persons and disparage others, or to take sides.AA 276.1–3+1 All differences in ability and all growth, development, and success are received from Jesus as the Source of all efficiency, including spiritual understanding, so Christian workers have nothing of their own to boast of.STE 54.2+2 They are wholly dependent branches of the same vine stock laboring in the same vineyard and brethren in the household of faith.Ms 25, 1892, par. 16–17

Because no one makes himself to differ from another, there is no cause for judging a brother, setting a brother at naught, looking down on others, or showing contemptuous judgment.MH 166.2+1 All stand on the same level as brethren under one Master.MH 166.2 Remembering that whatever distinguishes a person or is possessed has been received, and remembering personal weakness, forbids pride and requires dealing with the tempted and erring and with those who fall and struggle in humility and compassion.MH 166.2+1 Care must be taken to put no stumbling block or occasion to fall in a brother's way.MH 166.2

The verse calls for lowliness, humility, trust, and entire dependence on God, acknowledging Him and Christ as the source of power, ability, grace, good thoughts, and proper actions, while still working diligently to improve and using what is received in service to others without abuse.STE 54.2+3 Whatever good a person does is possible only because God blesses the effort, for the person is God's instrument and can do nothing of lasting good alone, which calls for humility, faith, and dependence.Lt 64, 1886, par. 5–6 All ability, including brain power, comes from God, so success in work gives no ground for taking credit, praise, or glory to self but requires humbling under God's hand and glorifying Him.Lt 64, 1886, par. 5–6+1 Being self-sufficient and exalted separates a person from God so that He cannot impart wisdom and cannot use such workers in cooperation with divine agencies, while power and sufficiency are found only in submitting to God's control and working in Christ's lines.Lt 9, 1892, par. 35–38

Strife for supremacy, contending over who is or shall be greatest, being lifted up, and calling attention to defective self are out of place, for talent, wisdom, and ability are sacred trust and the Lord's entrusted capital from the Source of wisdom, given to be wisely employed in His service to His glory.Ms 25, 1892, par. 16–17+1 Every selfish barrier is therefore to be broken down, with deep, unselfish interest in one another untainted by selfishness.Ms 25, 1892, par. 16–17 Jesus alone is to be exalted, and words and actions should lead others to Christ rather than drive them away.FE 52.1+1

Righteousness itself is received from God and not produced by human merit, for people have no righteousness of their own and cannot rely on themselves for anything good or righteous, and Christ alone and his righteousness provide the way to heaven and secure entrance there, leaving no reason for self-exaltation, boasting, or pretension.7MR 319.1+1 No gift or offering can earn God's favor or give grounds for pride, as David's response to the people's temple offerings illustrates, for God provided their wealth and moved their hearts to give willingly, and what they offered already belonged to him.5T 735.2–736.1

Goodness, good thoughts, proper actions, wisdom, power, every talent, and the power to do good come from God and from God working in obedient people, so wise and good deeds and works give no ground for self-credit, boasting of one's own power, praising one's own aptness, wisdom, skill, and ability, or taking glory to self, and people have no merit of their own to claim but should give him the glory, exalt his name, and leave all glory for the wise and good deeds of human agencies to him to whom it belongs.Ms 146, 1902, par. 20+4 Taking credit for good deeds and for ability enabled by him is unbecoming and displeasing to God, and those who praise themselves may have his blessings removed until weakness in judgment is as marked as former strength, with evils and harmful results brought upon themselves that many will weep over when too late to escape.Ms 146, 1902, par. 20+1 The desire to be original leads into strange paths, so instead every person is to represent Christ, as Nehemiah shows, for though he gained remarkable influence over the monarch in whose court he served and over his own nation, his influence was not due to himself but the Lord for his own name's glory had given him favor in their eyes.Ms 67, 1900, par. 27

All differences in ability and all growth, development, and success are received from Jesus as the source of all efficiency, so no one has anything to boast of, and Christian workers are wholly dependent branches of the same vine stock laboring in the same vineyard and brethren in the household of faith, who must break down every selfish barrier, stop contending over who is or shall be greatest, and feel deep interest in one another untainted with selfishness.Ms 25, 1892, par. 16–17 Christ continually supports and nourishes believers as the vine gives life to its branches, the church depends on Christ and not Christ on the church, believers must be fruitful branches abiding in Christ, and thorn-like fruit shows they are not branches of the Living Vine.5T 344.1 Every talent and opportunity is received from God in trust, and people owe to God all that makes it possible to labor for him, so there is no room to boast in personal effort or to indulge pride in talents.RH Oct 26, 1911+1 God expects people to improve the privileges given and to use them for better service, and human responsibility remains, for each has a part to act in preparing for service by earnest study and taxing effort to cultivate all powers, and then divine power will combine with the effort; yet after doing all they can, they remain dependent every moment on his grace and without him are unprofitable servants.RH Oct 26, 1911+1 Everything possessed is received from God and purchased for people by Christ's blood, and because nothing is truly their own they have no right to pledge anything as though it belonged to them.

Abilities, talents, capabilities, earthly goods, riches, honor, influence, natural and acquired abilities, and whatever success anyone has are not manufactured by self but received from God as sacred trust and the Lord's entrusted capital from the Source of wisdom.RH Sep 4, 1900+4 They are lent for a time to be held in trust, kept under the control of God's Spirit, consecrated to His service, and wisely employed to His glory and the benefit of others.RH Sep 4, 1900+4 Christ is the efficiency of man, and God uses human beings as His instrumentalities to do His work, with all capabilities and talents held in trust because they do not originate with man.Ms 51, 1900, par. 13+1 Those entrusted with responsibility should therefore recognize their need for experience, knowledge, and wisdom and earnestly seek them.7T 189.1–2

To claim received skill, wisdom, and ability as one's own and to use them for personal advantage is robbery toward God, for human beings remain finite and accountable to Him for how they use what He has given.Ms 14, 1901, par. 22–24+1 Every ability and possession is received in a way that gives no ground for pride or for exalting self above others, and how faithfully gifts are used has consequences for eternal destiny.STMW9 40.2+2 God's gracious pardon calls sinful people into fellowship with Him, yet accountability remains.Ms 14, 1901, par. 22–24

Human responsibility remains alongside entire dependence, for every man has a part to act in preparing himself for service by earnest study and taxing effort to cultivate all his powers, and then divine power will combine with his efforts.Ms 51, 1900, par. 13 To the one who consecrates what is received the Lord can give higher abilities.Ms 161, 1897, par. 25 What has been freely received is to be freely shared in service of God's work, with the recipient acting as a wise, merciful steward representing God's love and forbearance.Lt 170, 1901, par. 10 Refusing to share brings loss rather than gain, and what is held should be shared with others in a kind and humble spirit, recognizing that others may develop greater moral strength and ability when given similar opportunities and good instruction.Lt 170, 1901, par. 10+1

Taking glory to self for things done and praising one's own aptness, wisdom, and power is unbecoming and displeasing to God, to whom belongs all the glory for the wise and good deeds of human agencies, since men and women have no goodness except what God gives and all power to do good is God-given.Ms 146, 1902, par. 20+2 Whatever good a person does is possible because God blesses the effort, with the person as God's instrument able to do nothing of lasting good alone, so abilities, capabilities, brain power, and success give no ground for taking credit, praise, or glory as though self-made but require humbling under God's hand, humility, faith, and dependence.Lt 64, 1886, par. 5–6+2 Being self-sufficient and exalted separates from God so He cannot impart wisdom and cannot use such workers to cooperate with divine agencies, while power and sufficiency are found only in submitting to God's control and working in Christ's lines.Lt 9, 1892, par. 35–38 Those who praise their own skill and wisdom may have blessings removed until weakness in judgment is as marked as former strength, bringing evils upon themselves that make many weep when too late to escape the sure result.Ms 146, 1902, par. 20+1 Nehemiah illustrates the same truth, for though he gained remarkable influence over the monarch in whose court he served and over his own nation, his influence was not due to himself, but the Lord for His own name's glory had given him favor in their eyes.Ms 67, 1900, par. 27 Praise and honor therefore belong to God rather than to people, and giving people praise puts them in God's place and makes the praiser an agent of Satan in destroying the proper worship of God.Lt 9, 1892, par. 35–38+1

The question who makes one to differ is answered in that God is the one who makes people differ, so no one can claim personal superiority as though distinguishing qualities or advantages were self-achieved.DCPP 4.2–5.1+2 Race creates no distinction of worth, for the God of the white man is the God of the black man, loving white and black people alike without partiality and making no difference between them.DCPP 4.2–5.1+4 Natural gifts, appearance, color, and circumstances give no grounds for boasting of being different or superior or better and more worthy, nor for aversion or contempt or unequal respect.DCPP 4.2–5.1+3

To those who bear greater burdens and heavier hardships God gives special, tender pity, with a love resting on the least of His children exceeding a mother's love for her sick or afflicted child.DCPP 4.2–5.1+4 What the world withholds He will make up in His own favors, giving care to those whom the world neglects.STBk 157.1+2 Those facing hardship can therefore accept their circumstances with a cheerful spirit and cheerful trust that God sees them.STA 153.1

Those elevated in society or gifted with precious talents, when converted, will be humble though elevated, childlike though gifted, and poor in their own estimation, having nothing of their own to boast of since every ability, talent, earthly good, riches, honor, and influence is received and lent by God.Lt 21, 1897, par. 41–42 Rich and poor are to meet together as brethren with all distinctions lost sight of, and to lay all at Christ's feet not grudgingly but as a freewill offering to His name's glory, since He made them what they are and will make them what they may be, complete in Him.Lt 21, 1897, par. 41–42 Nehemiah illustrates that influence is not due to self, for though he gained remarkable influence over the monarch in whose court he served and over his own nation, the Lord for His own name's glory had given him favor in their eyes, and no one is to take credit to himself for the good he is enabled to do because all ability is the gift of God.Ms 67, 1900, par. 27

Because nothing that makes one person to differ from another was made by self, and everything possessed has been received, there is no cause for glorying, for judging a brother, or for setting a brother at naught.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13+2 All stand on the same level as brethren under one Master, wholly dependent branches of the same vine stock laboring in the same vineyard in the household of faith, with all growth, development and success received from the Source of all efficiency.MH 166.2+1 Remembering this and personal weakness, the tempted and the erring and those who fall and struggle are to be dealt with in humility and compassion rather than judgment or contempt or looking down on others.MH 166.2+1 Care is to be taken to put no stumbling block or occasion to fall in a brother's way, to break down every selfish barrier, to stop contending over who is or shall be greatest, and to feel a deep, unselfish interest in one another untainted with selfishness.MH 166.2+1

In evangelistic canvassing, which involves the highest moral duties, workers must serve under the control of the Spirit with brotherly love, humility, compassion, courtesy, harmony and unity.6T 331.1+3 This means loving as brethren by helping one another, being pitiful and courteous, pressing together in even cords without drawing apart, laboring unitedly for the saving of souls in obedience in word and deed, binding up the law and sealing it among the disciples, and handling the books that are to flood the world with light.6T 331.1+2 Only those who live out the prayer of Christ practically will stand the test coming upon all the world, and there is no higher missionary work than that of evangelist canvassers, including those called back to their work.RH Jan 22, 1901+1 If God's voice is obeyed in humility He will work with the workers, success will crown their efforts, rich blessings from on high will be received, and treasure will be laid up beside the throne of God.RH Jan 22, 1901+1 Those who exalt self place themselves in Satan's power and open themselves to deception, preparing to receive his deceptions as truth.6T 331.1+1

Talents came from Christ and were received from Him, so no one has cause for boasting about being apt or having great talents, taking credit to self for the good enabled to do, claiming superiority, or deserving more than others.SSP 10.1+2 Since they were received, they must be employed to represent godliness and self-denial and self-sacrifice to the world, which is imitating Christ, and to manifest intense, earnest desire with Christ to save souls ready to perish by denying self and lifting the cross instead of being indifferent, faithless, and worldly-minded.Ms 35, 1891, par. 26–27 Every human being is to represent Christ rather than seek originality, for the desire to be original leads into strange paths.Ms 67, 1900, par. 27 Nehemiah shows this, for though he gained remarkable influence over the monarch in whose court he served and over his own nation, his influence was not due to himself, but the Lord for His own name's glory had given him favor in their eyes.Ms 67, 1900, par. 27

Natural and acquired abilities are gifts, not grounds for self-glory, pride, or selfishness, and must remain under the Spirit's control and be used to glorify Him in unselfish service.7T 189.1–2+1 This applies to the health-food work, where means and abilities are to be treated as His gifts and used in unselfish service, including preparing healthful food for the poor.7T 57.1–2 It applies to publishing and to those entrusted with responsibility, who should recognize their need for experience, knowledge, and wisdom, and earnestly seek them.7T 189.1–2 Since abilities are received gifts, boasting in them or using them to justify excessive wages is misplaced; the call is to humility rather than covetousness.SSP 10.1

No one differs from another by self and nothing possessed was not received, so there is no ground to glory as if it had not been received or to think above that which is written by being puffed up for one against another.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13 Every man is called to a true, living experience as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God in whom faithfulness is required, counting human judgment a very small thing and judging nothing before the time until the Lord comes.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13 He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, when every man shall have praise of God, rebuking those who are full and rich and reigning as kings and exposing deficiencies before angels and men, while the apostles were set forth last as appointed to death as a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13 It is strong truth to be communicated, urging that every soul have righteousness going before him so the glory of God will be his rearward, for God's building in human character is the most splendid workmanship.Ms 93, 1893, par. 11–13 Therefore people with limited learning or gifts need not be discouraged, for every human power and ability comes from God and they can faithfully use what they have and seek strength from God, whose help is available to the weakest person who draws near to Him.STMW9 43.1