Article October 18, 1919 Issue

"The reward of obedience"

GEORGENE L. MILLER

JESUS' parable of the wedding feast, where the invited guests were so ready with excuses, illustrates a tendency of mortal mind which, in the words of Paul, would "deceive the very elect." The call of duty, which is really a call to go up higher, is not always recognized by mortals, or if it is seen, the response is given with mental reservations or postponed to a more convenient season. Mortal mind is very elastic in its interpretation of the word obedience. It fails to recognize the fact that if told to go north, one step south is disobedience. Equally disobedient is it to take no step at all. Failing to obey the call of Truth, the wedding guests lost the opportunity to partake of the feast, the blessing of increased understanding and spirituality prepared for them that love God. In other words, they lost "the reward of obedience," to which Mrs. Eddy refers in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902, as follows (p. 17): "Jesus said, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.' He knew that obedience is the test of love; that one gladly obeys when obedience gives him happiness. Selfishly, or otherwise, all are ready to seek and obey what they love. When mortals learn to love aright; when they learn that man's highest happiness, that which has most of heaven in it, is in blessing others, and self-immolation—they will obey both the old and the new commandment, and receive the reward of obedience." Mrs. Eddy placed much stress upon the need for obedience, and many lines could be quoted from her writings to show this.

One student of Christian Science learned, through many strenuous experiences, the need for implicit obedience to the call of Truth, but especially was this shown in accepting work in the Sunday school. When given an appointment as teacher, she was dismayed. Her teaching experience had been practically nil; furthermore, she was not at all fond of children. She had actually been known to travel miles to avoid them. Had she been given her choice, the Sunday school work would have been her last selection. The problem had to be met, however. In seeking light, the words of one of our hymns came to her (Hymnal, p. 180):—

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