Editorial October 16, 1937 Issue

Obedience and Its Reward

Duncan Sinclair

The Bible contains many references to the results which follow obedience to God and His law. One of the promises which came through Moses to the children of Israel reads, "Ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Ex. 23:25). Writing to the Romans, Paul said, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16.) And Jesus declared to the young man who came to him asking "what good thing" he should do to have eternal life, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:16-17).

Obedience to God means obedience to whatever pertains to the divine nature. It signifies obedience to good, obedience to Truth, obedience to Love. Thus, we are under the law of God, good, when we reflect good in our lives. We are under the law of Truth when we reflect Truth in our lives, being true to our spiritual understanding. We are under the law of Love when we reflect Love in our lives, showing forth loving-kindness, tenderness, compassion, good will.

Obedience to the law of God ensures to the obedient sustenance, healing, and protection. The Psalmist wrote (Ps. 37:25), "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Christian Science enables us to understand how scientific is this statement of the Psalmist. What does the upright business man most esteem in those whom he employs? Is it not intelligence, trustworthiness, honesty, patience, consideration? Certain it is that whoever possesses qualities such as these should not be long in securing employment which will adequately supply his human needs. Should one find himself searching for work to meet his needs, it would be well for him to examine his thoughts to see where he is lacking in obedience to the law of God, what are the mental qualities which are absent or which require strengthening. How often has pride, self-conceit, lack of humility, or a false sense of superiority militated against a man's prospects! How often have modesty, straightforwardness, truthfulness won the day, and placed their possessor on the road to well-deserved success!

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