Article March 22, 1952 Issue

"ALL THAT IS WORTH RECKONING"

ARTHUR SWIFT BUTTERFIELD

Since the dawn of history mankind has been at some pains to build For itself a scale of values, though grossly artificial and pitifully impermanent. Human intellect, popularity, material possessions, and political domination are some of the ambitions which have fascinated the unwary. Nevertheless, however attractively arrayed, these dreams of personal sense have inevitably expanded to their own destruction. The entire gamut of the worldling's aims and desires has its origin in dissatisfaction, for mortal mind itself is the essence of limitation.

Is there, then, no alternative to these admittedly erroneous concepts, of which the Preacher long ago lamented (Eccl. 2:17), "All is vanity"? Is there no reliable yardstick with which to measure our achievements, our portion of real progress and success? The Bible assures us that there is. Throughout the Old Testament we find the spiritually enlightened prophets imploring the people to renounce their idolatrous ways and turn to God for satisfaction and protection. Christ Jesus, who walked so close to God, the divine Principle of his being, as to be conscious of no other substance than infinite good, compassionately declared to those who seemed to be in need (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

In our day Mary Baker Eddy has elucidated and amplified this great spiritual law and its effects, so that none need be in doubt as to what is required of him in order that he may demonstrate his real status as the child of God. With the uncompromising authority of divine inspiration she asserts in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 203). "All that is worth reckoning is what we do, and the best of everything is not too good, but is economy and riches."

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