Editorial May 27, 1933 Issue

Humility and Gratitude

Duncan Sinclair

IN the fifth chapter of the first epistle of Peter are the words, "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Here Peter but states in simple language what is taught on humility throughout the New Testament. For humility is inseparable from Christianity, being based on the knowledge that man is dependent upon God for life and strength and health—every good thing. When Christ Jesus said to the Jews who sought to kill him, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise," he stated the basis of Christian humility. He could do nothing of himself; the Son reflected the Father. Man, being the spiritual idea of God, is wholly dependent on God.

Christian Science unreservedly supports the teaching of Jesus. In Christian Science, God is declared to be infinite Mind, and man His image or reflection. Hence man, the real man, "can do nothing of himself;" he can but show forth the qualities of infinite Mind. What a glorious heritage! Always at one with perfect Being; always retaining his perfect identity; always harmoniously governed, man continues to reflect the qualities of eternal Mind. Man's being, his immortality, his happiness, his joy, are thus forever assured. Perceiving the truth about the real spiritual man as Christian Science reveals it, can we be other than humble; can we be other than grateful?

Genuine humility has nothing of servility about it. While Jesus was of all men the most humble, yet he was unsurpassed for his courage—the courage of his words, the courage of his deeds. The fact that Jesus' humility was based on spiritual understanding, which was absolutely correct, enabled him to think, speak, and act in a manner entirely free of personal sense. He knew that man is not a creator, not an originator. And because of this understanding he was able fearlessly to utter the great truths of being to his fellow men, calling upon them to turn from their evil ways to God, the Father, who loves man with a love that is infinite. The humility of Jesus was entirely compatible with his denunciation of wrongdoing. Without humility, indeed, he could not have exposed evil as he did, nor so clearly pointed the way to eternal life.

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