I

It is very important that God comes to mankind using the way of incarnation. Also important is the work that He does in the flesh, but even more important to every person living in the flesh, to every person living in corruption, are the disposition that He reveals and the intentions that He expresses. Is this something that you can comprehend? Now that you've understood God's disposition and what He has and is, I will finally give you three pieces of counsel regarding how you should treat Him: First, do not test God. No matter how much you understand about God, no matter how much you know about His disposition, absolutely do not test Him.

II

Second, do not try to vie for status with God. No matter what type of status God gives you or what kind of work He gets you to shoulder, no matter what kind of duty He raises you up to perform, and no matter how much you've expended yourself and sacrificed for God, absolutely do not try to vie for status with Him.

III

Third, do not contend with God. No matter whether you understand or whether you can submit to what God does with you, what He arranges for you, and the things He brings to you, absolutely do not contend with God. If you can abide by these three pieces of counsel, then you will be relatively safe, and you will not be prone to angering God.

from The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God's Work, God's Disposition, and God Himself III