There is no lasting satisfaction for anyone when selfishness gets its way. Selfishness may get the better of those who indulge it, but it cannot best those who refuse to give it power.

Whoever would utterly defeat selfishness must heal himself of believing in self-interest as a help or a hindrance to the unfolding of good. Mere willful countermeasures can't defeat this sin. What is required is a growing understanding of good as God, Spirit—as limitless and universal. Such growth involves dropping the mistaken conception of many egos, some domineering and some dominated. Becoming better acquainted with the one Ego, God, enables us to bring forth, through meekness and unselfishness, our true nature as Godlike, spiritual man.

The belief that there are many minds, manipulative and subject to manipulation, gives way to the conviction that one divine Mind actually governs all. This infinite Ego, or Mind, is Love, and Love is never expressed in ways that are inequitable or competitive. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy explains, "Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light." ^{Science and Health, p. 516.}

With only one Mind, or Ego, one Love, there can be only one will, only one way to realize the divine justice and harmony that bless everyone by blessing each one. Christ Jesus is the door to that one way, but never the doormat for selfish will. He said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." ^{Matt. 7:21.}

God's will perpetuates universal blessing. His giving is individual and impartial, and He is the only giver; therefore it is impossible for anyone to gain any enduring good at the expense of or to the exclusion of others.

Jesus proved that man's spiritual individuality is the direct antithesis of self-promoting egotism. Science and Health notes: "Jesus was unselfish. His spirituality separated him from sensuousness, and caused the selfish materialist to hate him; but it was this spirituality which enabled Jesus to heal the sick, cast out evil, and raise the dead." ^{Science and Health, p. 51.} It might be said that selfishness crucified Jesus; but in Jesus' resurrection, every suggestion of conflicting interest—even the very damnation of enmity—had to yield to Love and its idea. Actually, God could create or tolerate nothing inimical to His beloved Son.

Jesus exemplified the Christian attitude, understanding, and life that Christian Scientists call Christian Science practice. Therefore, as Science and Health brings out, "Selfishness does not appear in the practice of Truth or Christian Science." ^{Ibid., p. 410.} If selfishness appears to be entering into our motives or affecting our experience, we may be sure that our genuine practice of Christian Science will usher it out and void any influence it may have asserted.

On the human scene, living unselfishly may begin with give-and-take. But we must progress to give-and-receive. And we will advance still further as we humbly learn and gratefully practice the Bible precept "It is more blessed to give than to receive." ^{Acts 20:35.}

Tender regard for the rights and privileges of all mankind is the hallmark of Christian Science practice. Such kindness unselfs motives and rejects the idolatrous suggestion of one's interests pitted against another's. It cooperates with the divine law that all things must work together for good, since the Mind that is good produces and directs all action.

If we are unselfish only because we think it is our obligation to take turns with others so each can have his way part of the time, we are not far removed from the crass parody that misreads the Golden Rule, "Do unto others before they do unto you." Following the actual rule, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," ^{Matt. 7:12.} brings us into accord with the divine law of Love that cherishes and fulfills all right desires. Science and Health promises, "Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power." ^{Science and Health, p. 192.}

The opportunity to decide to live unselfishly comes anew each moment. Unselfishness may appear at first to require us to sacrifice some things that we've looked forward to having or doing. But the unfolding of events reveals that in refusing to implement or react to selfish motives we lose nothing. Instead, we respond to the reign of Love, which encompasses all in unfading joy, maintains harmony, and enforces true progress.

Challenging and defeating self-centeredness in the present and future fit us to prove by degrees that because God, good, is All-in-all, selfishness has had no past history of cause and effect. So our course need not be misshapen, nor our hopes blighted, by past mistakes—our own or others'. The glorious dawn of Love's unselfishness lights up with redemption those dark memories of occasions when we thought we lost out to selfishness. Love reveals the eternal supremacy of infinite good, where unselfishness always wins.

CAROLYN B. SWAN

I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ... Be of the same mind one toward another.

Romans 12:3-5, 16