Article April 14, 1917 Issue

Service

DANIEL S. LINCOLN

On page 40 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "It is said that the phrase divine service has come so generally to mean public worship instead of daily deeds." Does not the mention of "daily deeds" remind us that our Master was ever about his Father's business, doing good? The Scriptures teach that we should serve God day and night, and in harmony with this injunction Christian Science affirms that one need not grow weary in well doing, since man is never separated from the ever active yet restful Mind.

For service to be efficient there must be a desire to know the will of God and a readiness to do that will with implicit obedience. Understanding is essential, for "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch," and the great necessity is to get right views of God, to know Him as divine Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. In Weymouth's translation of the New Testament, I Pet. v. 5 is rendered, "All of you must gird yourselves with humility toward one another," and the footnote refers to girding "as with the apron of one who waits upon others." This recalls the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus, an action indicating the self-immolation of him who was ever ready to render service to his fellow men, thus fulfilling the law of love.

It is encouraging to note that the same praise is given to the good and faithful servant who used his two talents as was given to the one who employed the five. In the service of God there is ample opportunity for the servant with only the one talent, for no service, if faithfully and willingly performed, is small in His sight. St. Paul exhorts us to do good to all men as we have opportunity, and one of the great blessings which Christian Science confers upon its followers is the ability to make the best use of opportunities, however diverse. A word in season, a kindly letter, an article in one of the periodicals passed along to a sufferer, a passage from our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, or a quotation from the sacred Scriptures, have all been the means of helping to lift burdens which were "grievous to be borne."

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The King's Armor
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