Article October 1, 1904 Issue

Relative Values

F. B. HOMANS

It seems strange that man clings to the frailty of human beliefs concerning health, strength, wealth, intelligence, and friends, and fears to trust God. One may think that he has health and yet believe that a draught from an open window will induce colds, consumption, and death. He boasts of his strength, and yet believes that a banana-peel may throw him down and paralyze the nerves until he cannot lift a cup of water to his lips. He believes that by a single turn of the wheel of fortune his wealth may be lost and he will be reduced to poverty; that friends are turned to enemies by a slanderous report; that great intellect may be turned to drivelling idiocy by sudden news, or a blow on the head-: yet men spend a lifetime striving to acquire material possessions, which at best can be held only for a few years and then yield to what is called death, while one successful effort to gain an understanding of divine Love will bring more pleasure, happiness, and contentment than all else combined; and this understanding can never be taken away or lost.

Mark Twain once said he was worth one million and fifty dollars. He said he had managed to make the fifty dollars out of lecturing and publishing his books; and his wife was worth the odd million.

I can also make the statement that I am worth one million and fifty dollars, having the fifty dollars in cash and being the happy possessor of a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy, which is worth the million. It has been proved to me many times that this little book, measured by its real value, is worth more than one million dollars. The amount named will buy a fine house, land, clothes, and food. It also brings care, worry, trouble, nor does it bring health. It cannot buy friends, nor does it bring health. It does not buy love, nor can it bring real happiness, contentment, joy, or peace; while a partial understanding of Christian Science brings friends, and real friends; it brings love, and the purest love; it brings health, happiness, contentment, peace, and joy; and incidentally it brings food and raiment, houses and lands. It never brings care and worry and it cannot be lost. What more can a man ask for? I can truthfully say that if I had to choose between the truth which Science and Health has revealed to me, and a million dollars. I should not hesitate for one moment in choosing the former.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Relative Values

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access