Finding Continuous Employment

JESSIE ELIZABETH RENDELL

Many are suffering at the present time from a belief of lack of employment, lack of business, lack of opportunity. Let us consider for a moment, therefore, what is the first thing necessary in order to manifest a condition of continuous employment. Whatever the human activity to which one wishes to devote one's time and abilities, is it not primarily a mental activity, since every act is dependent on thought? Without thinking, there could be no activity; therefore, true thought is the underlying necessity of continuous employment.

God gives the ability to think intelligently, to reflect wisdom, joy, patience, perseverance, courage, and so on. Man possesses, as the reflection of God, perfect Mind, all these qualities, even as Jesus implied in his words, "All things that the Father hath are mine." In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 475), we find these words regarding man: "He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas;" and, farther on in the same paragraph, she tells us that he "reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker."

Man's rightful employment, then, is reflecting, or expressing qualities or ideas of infinite Mind. He is perpetually bearing witness to the nature and fullness of God's being. This constitutes man's rightful inheritance as the son of God, his real employment or activity. But one may say: I know this is so, and that man reflects these qualities, yet I have no opportunity to work. There is no demand for my services.

From the above statements, is it not clear that God, Mind, gives man all the ability he has? Could it be possible for Him to bestow abilities and capacities that could lie dormant, unwanted, unnecessary, or unexpressed? If this were possible, the inevitable result would be the loss of these very abilities and capacities. Ability and its expression coincide and coexist in divine Mind, even as do supply and demand. The fact that an idea exists is coincident with the fact that it is being actively expressed. Were this not so, Mind would be without a witness.

In working out the question of continuous employment, one must continually endeavor to enlarge one's understanding of God, and gain a broader concept of what constitutes Deity and His reflection. One student found it very helpful to make a list of the qualities of God, or Mind, as they came to her thought, and also looked for these mental characteristics in all the literature read or studied, and added to the list as fresh qualities were discovered. In this way was found a practical application of another statement of our Leader's on page 258 of the textbook, where she says, "The human capacities are enlarged and perfected in proportion as humanity gains the true conception of man and God."

Since the unfoldment of divine qualities and their expression is man's God-given employment, this employment must of necessity be continuous, for since Mind is infinite and inexhaustible, there is no interruption or cessation of this mental activity. As these spiritual facts and their operation are perceived, the student of Christian Science finds himself confronted with opportunities never before discovered, through which he will realize continuous employment of a satisfying and profitable nature.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Overcoming Carnal Beliefs

October 26, 1935

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit