Editorial June 8, 1918 Issue

Working, Watching, Praying

William P. McKenzie

In metaphysics working means activity rather than toil, accomplishment rather than labor. No curse whatever is connected with it. By the sweat of the brow do men win material bread, but through joy in the heart man receives bread from heaven whereby he is sustained in his working. Of this sustainment Jesus said, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of," whereat the dull disciples thought some one had brought him food, and he had to explain to them, saying, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

Now working is never done well without watching, because true working will bring the kingdom of heaven and cause the demolishment of various kingdoms of this earth, and there are foes to be overcome. Jesus said, "If my kingdom were of this world, then would my sevants fight"—that is, fight to maintain the worldly kingdom. And that is just what the servants of the kingdom of this world do most earnestly, fight against whatever will diminish or annul the power and prestige of that in which they believe. Consequently they fight against the coming of the kingdom of heaven, and lay antagonistic plans to hinder and ensnare those working for that coming of the government of Christ.

The figurative speech describing "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," indicates conflict unseen and influences invisible. Against these influences must the watch be set, for by subtlety, by delusion, by deception and mental poisoning, they will exert their control if they can. Watch is carefully kept in camp or ship; hour by hour there are wakeful eyes guarding by intelligence the common welfare against open or treacherous attack, or other danger. Consequently the worker in metaphysics must never neglect his watch. In Miscellany Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 232): "Can watching as Christ demands harm you? It cannot. Then should not 'watching out' mean, watching against a negative watch, alias, no watch, and gaining the spirit of true watching, even the spirit of our Master's command? It must mean that." The exact rule for watching is something that must never be forgotten. Several times our Leader called the attention of workers to the statement on page 442 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

The Motherhood of Being