Article October 7, 1939 Issue

For the Sake of Others

ETHEL COLWELL SMITH

"Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." So we read on page 57 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scritpures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Those who resist evil, who live righteous, pure lives, discover that, as good occupies their thought and governs their actions, evil becomes unreal to them. All with whom they come in contact are blessed by this reflected goodness. Conversely, those who indulge in evil may bring shame and sorrow into the lives of others, and remorse and punishment to themselves.

In the seventeenth chapter of his Gospel, John records the incomparable prayer which Christ Jesus offered for himself, for his disciples, and for all mankind. Therein he stated a rule of living which may be followed with profit, saying, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." Jesus showed clearly that, through the influence of individual right living, others will seek to be sanctified. "For their sakes," turns thought to universal, impartial love. "I sanctify myself," indicates the necessity for self-abnegation, humility, honesty, reverent realization of oneness with God.

Our Leader writes (ibid., p. 51): "Jesus was unselfish. His spirituality separated him from sensuousness, and caused the selfish materialist to hate him; but it was this spirituality which enabled Jesus to heal the sick, cast out evil, and raise the dead." Jesus did not pray that we should be taken out of the world, but that we should be kept from the evil beliefs which would claim to separate us from God. He left with every Christian the responsibility of doing the works that he did. A child in school is advanced through his own work. He cannot be promoted to higher grades through the efforts of teacher or parents, no matter how willing they are to assist him. So it is with us. We must practice the truth in our own lives, live it and love it, recognize spiritual purity and express it, if we would benefit others.

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