Editorial June 13, 1931 Issue

Activity, Temperance, Zeal

Clifford P. Smith

Christian Science teaches that "immortal Mind is ever active," and that man "reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker." (See "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 387, 475.) Activity, therefore, belongs to man; the real man is always active. In human life, so called, one is active who is alert, busy, diligent, effective, energetic, industrious, lively, practical, prompt, quick, ready, vigilant, vigorous, and wide-awake.

Such characteristics are evidently desirable. One can see that nothing good or real is either opposite or opposed to them. They are also valuable. Indeed, they constitute actual riches, because they are constituent factors of the one commodity for which there is the most constant demand; that is, usefulness. Furthermore, all of the qualities just named belong to man and to us, for they express, in different degrees or forms, the character continually given to man by our creator, the infinite Principle, God.

Of course, not every impulse to human action is a good one. Every impulse which is not clearly right needs to be quickly tested to determine whether it is a God-given incentive. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, declared the true test in her prayer of thanksgiving and song of exultation, "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed" (I Samuel 2:3). Divine good is indeed the criterion for human action. Even when the best that one can do is what is nearest right in a confused situation, absolute good furnishes the standard for true judgment. (See "Miscellaneous Writings" 288:6 and "Rudimental Divine Science" 3:18.) In these citations, Mrs. Eddy confirms this point and also traces action to volition and to impulse. Here is exactly where it should be examined, lest the impulse be accepted and afterward prove to have been mistaken.

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