Trustworthiness

Duncan Sinclair

Few qualities are more highly esteemed than trustworthiness. The business man values it greatly, selecting for the carrying out of his projects those who have proved that they possess it. In every branch of successful administrative work the same is in evidence—those engaged in it are characterized by their trustworthiness. Should any fail in this; should they become untrustworthy, unreliable, is it not to be expected that they will forfeit the confidence of those to whom they are responsible, and probably cease to retain the positions they hold? Intelligence, perseverance, and patience are indispensable to every worker in whatever line of endeavor; and when to these is added trustworthiness, a combination of qualities results of the utmost value to its possessor.

Nowhere is trustworthiness more needed than in connection with church work. Can he be relied on? Is he dependable? Will he conscientiously carry out the task to which he is appointed? Will he be obedient to the rules governing his appointment, his office? Such are some of the questions which present themselves to all who are responsible for the filling of positions of trust. They certainly come to the thought of Christian Scientists when at election times they are called upon to fill church offices. For those who occupy these offices must be trustworthy—reliable, dependable, to a high degree.

As showing the importance of trustworthiness Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 15), "Trustworthiness is the foundation of enlightened faith." This is worth pondering, especially by those who are aspiring to deeper spirituality, with all that it means of spiritual power to meet and overcome the problems incidental to a mortal sense of existence. Have they taken account of their trustworthiness? How far has it been proved reliable? When right is presented to them, do they choose it readily, and in preference to anything with a taint of unrighteousness about it? Are they faithful to the dictates of an enlightened conscience—invariably faithful? If so, they are displaying trustworthiness and are ready to understand more of spiritual truth, the truth which Christian Science reveals, and upon which enlightened faith is based.

Explaining his parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus said (Matthew 13:23), "He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." The most trustworthy among men are those with spiritual vision, with the spiritual understanding of God and His creation which Christian Science gives. They know that God is good—infinitely good—and that evil is unreal. Because of their understanding of God they put their trust in good, and are able to prove evil's nothingness and powerlessness. We are on lofty spiritual ground here, but ground which is absolutely stable. "Evil is impotent to turn the righteous man from his uprightness" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 119). The righteous man is trustworthy. His faith in good is unshakable. He cannot be persuaded by the arguments of evil to turn from the way of holiness.

There is a saying that "every man has his price." The evilly-minded certainly have; but it is plainly written across the face of history that in every age there have been those who have exposed deceit, spurned the bribe, disdained the proffered gifts of base materiality. Righteousness, with freedom of conscience, was too sacred to them to be sacrificed on the altar of mammon. Their steadfastness to goodness brought them the reward of goodness—a measure of spiritual satisfaction and peace.

Trustworthiness is as necessary among nations as it is among individuals. Nations which are without it cannot be relied upon. For who can be certain that they will not break their contracts, set aside their obligations, wherever these conflict with some new policy originating in selfishness or other erroneous egotistical motive? The nations of the world today—one and all of them—should recognize this, be convinced of its significance, and determine to establish themselves as trustworthy in their own eyes and the eyes of the world.

Human existence can rightly be regarded as affording opportunities for progress in all the virtues. And Christian Science shows how this spiritual progress can be attained. Our Leader very clearly points out the way on page 118 of "Miscellaneous Writings," where she writes: "Human will must be subjugated. We cannot obey both God, good, and evil,—in other words, the material senses, false suggestions, self-will, selfish motives, and human policy. We shall have no faith in evil when faith finds a resting-place and scientific understanding guides man."

Progress, then, in the pursuit of righteousness is a question of scientifically overcoming belief in the reality of evil through the understanding of God's allness, and giving wholehearted allegiance to good. If we are faithful in this, our spiritual progress is assured in reliability, steadfastness, trustworthiness.

Duncan Sinclair

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