Article May 14, 1938 Issue

Confidence through Understanding

WILLIAM S. BEACH

In his earthly ministry Christ Jesus made it very clear to his followers that in order to escape the injurious effects of limiting and enslaving beliefs they must continually be on guard against wrong thinking. In a parable he likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins who started with the same good intentions, but five were foolish and neglected to take with them a supply of oil for their lamps. And so they could not attend the wedding ceremony, because they lacked the consecrated loyalty necessary to meet the bridegroom.

To watch and pray that we enter not into temptation is resolutely to bar the door of our thinking to all that is unlike good. This should not be a difficult task if we realize that as children of God, the one Mind, we inherit the spiritual quality of discernment of good. Because God is All, infinite good, there can be nothing opposed to His allness; and evil in whatever guise presented is but an impostor, without law or truth to sustain it.

In our journey out of the material sense of existence into spiritual reality we are continually making decisions upon which depend our peace, our confidence, our salvation. How essential, then, that these decisions be reached through spiritual guidance! All discord manifests the error of believing in more than one power—of "gods many, and lords many." God is Spirit, All, and man is His image and likeness. Matter has no place in this allness, and we should beware of accepting materiality and its so-called laws, thus breaking the First Commandment. As we earnestly desire to be true witnesses to the fatherhood and motherhood of God, we should endeavor to let the command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," motivate every activity of our daily lives.

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