Article September 24, 1921 Issue

Motives

F. MAUD BROWN

The average man is serenely unconscious of any need for introspection. For the most part he carries out his work faithfully, has a kindly feeling for his neighbor, and is content if he approximates his somewhat elastic standard of morals. Suppose such a man is healed of some sickness through Christian Science and begins to study its teachings; if he is in earnest it gradually dawns on him that to make true progress he must learn to look his own motives fairly in the face and find out what his reasons are for doing the things which he does. Only in this way can he rid himself of his faults. This habit of challenging our motives, once acquired must continue through the years until we shall have "put off the old man" and "put on the new." Even Paul himself, who restored Dorcas and was found worthy to establish the Christian church among the Gentiles, felt the need for constant watchfulness and self-examination, and cautioned the Corinthians in his first epistle to them, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

It is safe to say that the average man is amazed at the number of undesirable qualities he comes across during this process of self-investigation. Motives which before passed themselves off as kind or even highly moral will not stand the test of fearless analysis. He finds out by degrees what a great many things he does each day simply because of what people will think of him if he leaves them undone, which, however right the things themselves may be, is clearly an inadequate reason for doing them. Fear of public opinion is an ingrained characteristic of mortals, and so is the fear of hurting other people's feelings. How many compliments are paid, how many rebukes left unspoken, how many presents given, and how many invitations accepted all because otherwise some friend's feelings may be hurt. Many people who would scout the more obvious temptations to sin are deceived by this fear of hurting others' feelings, because it is a mesmerism which tries to fill their thoughts and force them to obey its insistent demands instead of weighing their actions honestly and doing what is right.

Once we analyze this fear and see it for what it is, it loses its supposed power. If we do or say what is right, then why should we be afraid that some other person will not like it? For the most part, what we are really afraid of is that they will not like us, that they will think us unkind or be disappointed in us. Frankness with ourselves may show us that the motive we have been content to call consideration for others is nothing more nor less than self-conceit; it is a desire to stand well with men rather than to be guided by God, and it is based on a hope that men may call us so loving and so kind, may praise and glorify us instead of glorifying God. The only remedy for this tyranny of self-love, this absorption in self, is to learn more about infinite Principle, to let our thought dwell on the omnipotence of Principle, and to be more grateful for the ceaseless expressions of divine Love which surround us in our daily lives. It was spiritual intuition which prompted the psalmist to declare: "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God." The more clearly we understand the wonders of infinite Mind's kingdom the less possible it becomes for us to be so foolish as to seek our own glory. On all occasions there is only one question to ask ourselves: Is the thing we would do right? Are we expressing divine Principle? If we are, then clearly what we do will bring a blessing to all concerned. To fear that any one may suffer as a result is to doubt the divine wisdom.

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