Article September 18, 1937 Issue

Sufficient Guidance

MARY CARMEN REED

Christendom has generally recognized the Bible as the established Word of Truth, and the lives of many of its characters as illustrating God's love and care for His children. However, when seeking practical guidance, it has often turned aside, assuming that the promises and commands in the Scriptures applied only to the ancients.

The first tenet, given on page 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, openly refutes this assumption. She writes, "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." The attention of a student of Christian Science was arrested by the word "sufficient." Did not this indicate that conclusive guidance could be found in the Bible? At that time she was undecided about which course to pursue. She had been led to a profession which she had always felt she did not want to follow. The question persistently presented itself, Should I turn back to resume other work? Earnestly she desired to be shown the answer, one that would be adequate to still all uncertainty.

Reviewing the Tenets she received her first direction as to where she would find sufficient guidance. Eagerly and prayerfully confident that the next steps would unfold, she went about her work. Reading aloud from the Bible that evening she found these words: "Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, ... but abide here fast by my maidens." And the promise followed, "A full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Here, indeed, was her answer. And it had come through the Word of Truth which had been effective in guiding another centuries before.

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