Article January 30, 1926 Issue

Sincerity and Success

ALFRED PITTMAN

Success as Christian Scientists conceive it in no way falls short of success as it is commonly conceived. Achievement that is creditable from the human standpoint, self-respect, supply adequate for one's needs, happiness—all these come into the Scientist's view of success, as they do into those of others; and no proof of divine Love is adequate without them. But the Scientist's idea of success goes much farther. He aims not so much at the greatest mortal achievement, the extinction of death itself, with its accompaniments of sin, sorrow, and disease, as at the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. This is his goal, his immediate standard every step of the way; and it ultimates in health and a growing realization of good.

An extraordinary interest therefore attaches to Mrs. Eddy's statement (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 203), "A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it." A moment's consideration shows that this statement, as compared with the common thought about success, puts the whole matter on a new footing. It altogether rejects chance as an element in the attainment of success, introducing instead the exactness and certainty of divine law. "A deep sincerity is sure of success," it says, and adds no qualification. It implies, moreover, that success is not open to some and closed to others, or open to all at some times and closed to them at other times, as has been commonly supposed, but that it is open to all at all times. For while any one at some time may have doubted his ability to succeed, no one can doubt his ability to be sincere. And this, Mrs. Eddy implies, comes to the same thing.

What is it, then, to be sincere? What is this quality of thought that brings with it divine aid, and is unfailingly effective? Every one knows the common meanings of the word "pure"—"unadulterated," "genuine," "being in reality what it appears to be," as the dictionary definition runs, agreeing substantially with the common use.

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"Illimitable Love"
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