Article June 12, 1948 Issue

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND THE BUSINESSMAN

ROBERT ELLIS KEY

What is your primary purpose in the conduct of your business? This question, if put to a group of business people who were not Christian Scientists, would undoubtedly produce a wide variety of replies. One might answer, "My primary purpose in the conduct of my business is the acquisition of wealth." Another might say, "For me business means interesting employment." And yet a third might emphatically declare, "Business is my life."

If this question were put to a group of Christian Scientists, the answer would undoubtedly be couched in terms of service. One and all would declare that the primary object of business is to serve mankind. Suppose one were to question the Christian Scientist more closely and ask: "What, exactly, do you mean by service to mankind? Is it your purpose to give and not to get; and does not your work deserve a fair reward? You bring talents and experience into your business; you invest capital; you employ labor. Surely you should be compensated in a liberal way."

Christian Science is a practical religion. It teaches that service of the right sort inevitably carries with it a reward, not only the spiritual satisfaction which service affords, but also temporal benefits. Christ Jesus was both Master and servant to mankind, but he did not lack anything as far as we can learn from the Gospels. He was always successful in his work because he was always in the service of his Father, God, and looked to his creator for everything. He touched the high-water mark of service when he declared (Luke 22:27), "I am among you as he that serveth," and (John 5:17), "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." He recognized no activity apart from God; he acknowledged no power underived from his Father.

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