Article August 29, 1925 Issue

"I am among you as he that serveth"

MARY E. BELCHER

There are few questions which occasion mankind more anxious thought than that of occupation or position. From an early age the problem of a child's future fills an important place in the thought of the parent, and in many instances great material sacrifices are made in order that he may be fully equipped to take his part in the struggle for wealth and fame, which appear to be of such paramount importance to humanity. Deeply ingrained in mortal consciousness is the desire for success and advancement, and unless this desire is turned into a longing to help and benefit our fellow-man, it may ultimate in selfishness and tyranny, considering nothing but the gratification of its own ambition, and crushing beneath its feet all who may hinder in any way the fulfillment of that ambition.

Is it not, then, of the utmost importance that we gain an understanding of what constitutes true occupation? Few will deny that the greatest man the world has ever seen was Jesus the Christ. He proved his complete dominion over every material law; and had he so desired, worldly honor might have been at his feet. In the account of the temptation in the wilderness, which is so full of meaning for each one of us, we read how the devil took Jesus up into a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world which should be his if he would only worship matter instead of Spirit. Every argument of worldly advancement was presented to his thought; but, firm in his allegiance to the unseen things of Spirit, our Master rejected them all. Is it any wonder, after that experience, that he was able to teach mankind the great truths of the kingdom of heaven and to prove the practical nature of that teaching by his mighty deeds? Jesus saw clearly the utter powerlessness and unreality of matter or evil. He knew the only occupation man has is to reflect God and to prove his unity with the Father. A clear realization of this truth would eliminate for us the fear of not finding our right work, and would also destroy the false belief that we are wrongly placed and our work of no value. If we would only turn away from the erroneous sense that man's work is in any way dependent on material conditions or human personality, the belief of limitation would be overcome and our place in God's kingdom of rightful activity be unfolded.

How, then, can we gain the understanding which will enable us to demonstrate over the beliefs of limitation and failure? Is not the secret to be found in those wondrous words of Jesus, "I am among you as he that serveth"? Patiently and lovingly throughout his ministry he had striven to teach his disciples the joy of unselfish service and the true meaning of his life-work. Day after day they had witnessed the healing of sickness, sin, and even death itself. They had seen how every so-called law of matter had been rendered null and void and every human need met through the knowledge of the allness of God; and yet at the close of the Last Supper, at the most crucial point of their Master's career, his trusted students were found disputing among themselves as to who should be greatest. Place, position, power, were to them greater realities still than the things of Spirit!

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