Editorial March 16, 1918 Issue

Working Out

Annie M. Knott

On page 22 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy quotes Paul's words, "Work out your own salvation," and then she adds that this "is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you." In a number of other places in our Leader's writings we find a reference to this same Scripture, and there can be no question that the idea here expressed is of vital importance to every student of Christian Science. It may indeed be said that if we do not realize the desired results from our work in any direction, it is because we have failed to maintain the balance between the working within of spiritual law and the working out of this law along the pathway of daily duty.

In the second chapter of Paul's epistle to the Philippians we find the oft quoted words, "Work out your own salvation;" and this is followed by the statement, "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." The tendency of mortals has usually been to make drudgery of work when in reality it should be joyous, and did they but know it, the surest means of growth. Then after they have taken their first steps in Christian Science they are apt to go to the other extreme and to feel that they have done all that is required of them when they have silently declared the truth of being and recognized the operation of divine law, quite forgetful of the fact that the operation of truth within and the working out of divine law are reciprocal, and that the one implies and demands the other. Perhaps the apostle had some experiences with this mental state when he followed his admonition with this other: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."

The faithful student of Christian Science knows that if he did not give precedence to spiritual things, and begin each day with a period of communion with God and a renewed acquaintance with the law of God which destroys all discord, the day's work could never bring out the results in the way of harmony and happiness which would follow the true method of working, and this means always to seek "first" the things of God. Some one may remark at this point that even if an hour or more is spent in the early morning in the study and declaration of truth, as understood in Christian Science, long hours of work have to follow in which we have to deal with the discords and difficulties of mortal experience. Here we may remind ourselves that if one day with the Lord means more than a thousand years of such experience, that which is gained in our communion with Truth and Love should fully provide for all the needs of the day when the vital purpose of all activity is kept well in view, and that is, to prove the ever presence and unceasing activity of the Mind which rules the universe.

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