Article January 26, 1935 ISSUE

To Estimate Aright

BEATRICE CLAYTON

In every line of human endeavor, thought explores the way for action. Ill-considered projects have no guaranty of success. He who builds a bridge first estimates every detail of its structure, that it may safely sustain a specified weight. If wise, he who establishes a business estimates in advance the capital required, the cost of operation, and the margin of profit. He who contemplates a career carefully estimates his ability to fulfill the requirements of the activity in which he may engage. If such procedure is the dictate of human wisdom, how much more important is it for each individual rightly to estimate the purpose of life, its real values, the true nature of success and happiness.

It is probable that Jesus' wonderful demonstrations of divine power awakened in his disciples the ambition to perform similar works, even though they were still too immature, spiritually, to apprehend clearly the preparation required. Impressing upon them the complete sacrifice of self and materiality which must precede the gaining of spiritual authority over evil, Jesus warned them in the words: "Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, ... all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."

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