Article July 29, 1939 Issue

"Well done"

MARY C. REYNOLDS

Familiar to all Bible students is the parable of the talents, in which the faithful servant who made wise use of his talents wins from his master the words of commendation, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

"Well done"! What a world of meaning lies in those two short words! Who, as a child, has not felt a glow of satisfaction when they have come from the lips of a teacher or an admired older person, in praise of a difficult accomplishment? With the advent of maturity, who has not striven to merit the same words of approval from friends, from associates, and from the world in general? But often in human experience the longed-for "Well done" is not readily forthcoming, and one finds oneself in a world all too indifferent to one's strivings for recognition. If, on the other hand, one wins a goodly measure of worldly acclaim, the sound of human praise may soon become empty and meaningless. Thus men may learn to reach out for a higher goal in spirituality and find a truly satisfying reward.

Christian Science brings to mankind the inspiring message that one should strive not for human applause or merely material gain, but to earn, through spiritual achievements and victories, Truth's commendation, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." It holds out before one the divinely satisfying goal of existence—so to purify thought and action that one lives with the continuous sense of being blessed by his heavenly Father's love and approval. It teaches one to listen for the "still small voice" of Truth, which is heard when material sense is silenced, instead of for merely human praise. Every victory over material sense brings the same heavenly benediction, the ever-clearer understanding of the truth of being, a reward which the Christian Scientist holds dearer to his heart than any earthly guerdon.

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