Article September 24, 1910 Issue

"WHAT SHALL WE DO?"

LUCY HAYS EASTMAN.

We are all more or less familiar with the account of Jesus' feeding of the five thousand, and have gained therefrom an assurance that there is a law of supply which if understood and put into operation silences forever under all conditions the belief in or fear of limitation and poverty. We see also in this same experience how Jesus led the human mind, bound as it was by doubt, incredulity, and materialism, to the perception of this law by demonstrating its efficacy in meeting an immediate and practical need. In this way human desire was uplifted for something outside of itself, until in response to his gentle knock the doors of consciousness were opened wide and the question was asked: "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?"

Jesus' reply set forth the most important factors in the accomplishment of any righteous work; namely, that the desire, motive, and method be in accord with the Principle of righteousness, and that a faith amounting to an understanding of this Principle be gained. If we look deeply into the meaning of these words, we find the mental qualities for which they stand are interdependent upon each other and follow in natural sequence to the furtherance of any act or deed. For instance, a desire (longing for) is inert and lifeless of itself, and becomes operative only as it gains a motive (that which invites to action); while motive, to have fruitage, is dependent upon method (an orderly procedure), which in turn is dependent upon Principle for correctness. Jesus explained this when he said: "Ask [desire], and it [a motive] shall be given you; seek [this motive], and ye shall find [the method]; knock [use this method], and it [understanding] shall be opened unto you."

One's desires and motives may be right, but without method and Principle they are valueless; and vice versa. The multitude desired the loaves and fishes. Jesus unclamped and loosened this rank materialism with the reminder, "Your fathers did eat manna, and are dead;" hence the necessity to work for something beyond the mere satisfaction or need of the moment. Then, turning their thought to the "living bread" and its satisfying substance, he aroused a hunger and thirst for that of which the material loaves and fishes were but the symbol. Here it may be seen that, although Jesus' methods were destructive to all that involved the material testimony, they were always constructive to that which was based upon the eternal, the true and actual substance.

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