Editorial November 21, 1903 Issue

The Greater Blessedness

All who come into Christian Science must learn sooner or later that spiritual understanding reverses human beliefs and opinions, a statement which is warranted both by the teaching and the practice of the Master, else would it not have been said of him, "Never man spake like this man." We read that his declarations of truth were often so startling as to rouse the antagonism of those who accepted the testimony of the physical senses rather than the spiritual facts of being, but his words were verifiable then and are now, and Christian Science shows us how we may prove their verity beyond all question.

Our text-book says that Jesus "plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found their spiritual cause" (Science and Health, p. 313). Contrary to all human opinion, he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The human tendency is to get, and no one would deny that legitimate getting is praiseworthy; but there is something better, and that, according to the great Teacher, is giving. From youth to age, we see men seeking love with a never-satisfied longing, and yet, did they but know it, the only true joy is to be found in giving love. So also we shall not find content in gaining truth, unless we are ever ready to impart it. We should never forget however, that this spiritual development comes by orderly processes. We do not reach heaven, or harmony at a single bound, and there is the greater need that we apply our understanding of Truth, and see to it that we are daily growing richer toward God.

Self-denial on our human side, is a wonderful discipline, and prepares the way for expansion on the spiritual side. This may be illustrated by the experience of a young man who resolved early in life to consecrate a tenth of his income to God and humanity. In order to do this, he found it necessary to practise the strictest economy, but at the end of the first year he saw that he was better off than he would have been, had he not had the benefit of this discipline each day. He was greatly prospered, and as his income was doubled, again and again, tempting suggestions came to him, of his necessarily increased expenditure, and that he was probably giving more than others, but he had made a covenant with God and himself and he would not break it.

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