Article April 28, 1917 Issue

Watchfulness

FRANCES M. GORRELL

One who occupies the position of watchman in any business enterprise is entrusted with duties which may seem small and unimportant of themselves, yet which are absolutely necessary to the protection and success of the whole business of which they are a part, and which need to be carried out with great precision. These duties call for punctuality, alertness, and faithfulness. For instance, the night watchman in a factory must take up his duties promptly, and each hour during the night should find him in his place in the mill, looking after the safety of all for which he is responsible. Such a position demands steadfast obedience to one's highest sense of duty.

The Bible has much to say about watchfulness and is very definite in its statements as to what our mental attitude should be and how we should watch. In Habakkuk we read, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer." To stand upon the watch brings out the thought of activity, a readiness to meet and overcome quickly any foe to peace and progress. Jesus saw the paramount necessity for watchfulness, and constantly reiterated to his students the command to watch. He said, "Watch therefore: for that ye enter not into temptation;" and again, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Paul too was awake to the demands of Truth, and in his first epistle to the Thessalonians he wrote, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober;" and again in addressing his beloved Timothy he wrote, "Watch thou in all things."

The text-book of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, gives definite instructions as to watchfulness. On page 392 we read: "When the condition is present which you say induces disease, whether it be air, exercise, heredity, contagion, or accident, then perform your office as porter and shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears. ... The issues of pain or pleasure must come through mind, and like a watchman forsaking his post, we admit the intruding belief."

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