I

Many who follow God are only concerned with how to gain blessings or stave off disaster. As soon as God’s work and management are mentioned, they fall silent and lose all interest. They think understanding such tedious issues will not help their lives to grow or provide any benefit. Consequently, although they’ve heard information about God’s management, they approach it in an unserious manner. They do not see it as something precious to be accepted, much less do they comprehend it by taking it as a part of their life. The purpose of these people in following God is very simple, and it’s for a single goal: to be blessed. These people cannot be bothered to pay attention to anything else that has nothing to do with this goal.

II

Man’s relationship with God is merely one of naked self-interest. It’s a relationship between a receiver and a giver of blessings. It’s the relationship between an employee and an employer. The employee works hard only to receive the rewards bestowed by the employer. There is no kindred affection in such an interests-based relationship, there is only transaction. There is no loving or being loved, only charity and mercy. There is no understanding, only helpless suppressed indignation and deception. There is no intimacy, only an uncrossable chasm. Now that things have gotten to this point, who can reverse such a course? And how many people are capable of truly understanding how dire this relationship has become? When people immerse themselves in the joy of being blessed, none can imagine how embarrassing and unsightly such a relationship with God is.

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Appendix 3: Man Can Only Be Saved Amidst God’s Management