Article December 31, 1932 Issue

Measuring Progress

ROBERT DICKINSON NORTON

It is surely right that a legitimate business which is meeting a human need should be successful. And by the study of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings of Mrs. Eddy, one may learn how to accomplish this result. Christian Science reiterates the injunction of Christ Jesus which he gave in his Sermon on the Mount, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

One who has turned to Christian Science for help in a problem involving supply or health, or for the healing of any discordant condition, is learning that the first and last necessity is to gain an understanding of these words of Jesus and put them into practice. On page 560 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy has indicated this need where she has written, "The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man." In the past many of those who read the above words of Jesus have perhaps accepted them in theory only, deeming them impracticable of application in a workaday world. But Christian Science, through the inspired thought of our Leader, affirms that they are practicable and enables one to demonstrate the fact. It elucidates the words of Christ Jesus by showing that because thought is the root and basis of all external conditions, righteousness or right thinking will inevitably result in right conditions, that is to say, in health, harmony, and happiness.

Thus it will be seen that Jesus was merely stating the great metaphysical or scientific fact that what is sown as thought is reaped as a condition in experience; hence the paramount necessity of right thinking in order to gain those things which are regarded as needful for human well-being and success. But this spiritual right thinking is far above the thinking which may appear right from the human standpoint. "Are thoughts divine or human? That is the important question." So writes Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 462). And it is the question which each individual has to put to himself in regard to his own thinking. If one's thought is measuring up to the divine standard, then one is attaining that degree of righteousness whereby "all these things shall be added."

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