Article October 11, 1947 Issue

SEEING THINGS IN THEIR TRUE PROPORTIONS

WALTER DEGEN

Probably few of the recorded works of the Master are more loved and more, frequently cited than his feeding of the five thousand. Grasping the profound lesson of the true nature of substance or supply to be learned from Jesus' demonstration of the power of God to provide for man has been of inestimable value to those receptive to the lesson.

An important point to be considered in this so-called miracle is the steadfastness displayed by Jesus in refusing to permit anything to interfere with the most important need of the moment, namely, his sharing more of his teachings with the multitude. When the disciples urged Jesus to send the people away in order that they might buy food for themselves, he said (Matt. 14: 16),"They need not depart; give ye them to eat." Without this ability to see the essential need in every situation and provide for it, he could never have accomplished his mission within the brief period of three years. With it, it was inconceivable to him that anything thing could stand in the way of his mighty works.

A study of the life and works of Mary Baker Eddy reveals that she had a similar capacity to see things in their right perspective, and she constantly instructed her students to do likewise. An example of this is to be found in her call to a meeting of the National Christian Scientist Association in 1888. She said in her letter to the Association. (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 134): "Let no consideration bend or outweigh your purpose to be in Chicago on June 13." Other instances of her insistence on the right thing being done at the right time may be found in her instructions to The Christian Science Board of Directors to start work on the building of The Mother Church, to the Board of Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society in reference to the establishing of The Christian Science Monitor, and in other well-known ways. Her reasoning along these lines may be summed up in her own words (ibid., p. 117), "Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance."