Article March 13, 1920 Issue

Service

CORALIE ELLISTON

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 40) our Leader has said, "It is sad that the phrase divine service has come so generally to mean public worship instead of daily deeds." How true this is; for have not many of us labored under this delusion? Have we not gone to church Sunday after Sunday quite satisfied that in attending public worship we were doing our full duty, though we may not even have given a thought to what we had been doing in the meantime, as to how we had performed our tasks or served mankind? Duties may have been done half-heartedly, grudgingly, or left undone, we little thinking that in so doing them we had failed in divine service. We may not have intended to do wrong, and it may have been mainly because we did not know the right way, or, knowing it, were unwilling to follow it.

The Scriptures give very clear instruction on this point, and in turning to them for guidance we shall find these words: "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men," not "with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God." This singleness of heart — is it not doing things just because they are right; that is, through the love of righteousness, regardless of whether we shall be seen of men or have praise or blame? Through Christian Science we learn that it is the spiritual idea, or Christ, in us which enables us to perform right service. Speaking of our Savior, Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 166): "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiae of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified." Jesus must have fully recognized the absolute necessity that he exemplify perfection in everything that he did; and we are bidden to do likewise.

No doubt the greatest desire of all students of Christian Science is to serve mankind by becoming successful practitioners, but few of us can straightway enter unreservedly upon this beautiful line of work. We must first demonstrate our understanding right where we are, taking up our duties, doing well whatever lies at hand, and in a new light — that of spiritual understanding — striving to overcome self in the daily round. Then, if faithful over a few things we shall be made ruler over many. Right action is always health giving, because right action proceeds from God. In Science and Health (p. 376) we read, "There is more life and immortality in one good motive and act than in all the blood, which ever flowed through mortal veins and simulated a corporeal sense of life." In opposition to this, who has not felt the debilitating effects of work grudgingly done; the hands hang heavy, the feet seem to drag, and, in keeping with this, heart and mind seem oppressed and we are thoroughly depressed. The remedy lies in gaining the right or divine idea of service so that we shall perform our duties in love, and to the glory of God.

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