Article July 10, 1954 Issue

MY PART

D. OLA GILLESPIE

During an inspirational meeting held in connection with the building of a branch church the thought was brought out that each one should do his part. The writer went home pondering the questions: "What is my part? How shall I know when I have done it? How will others know when they have done theirs?" Knowing that the answers would be found in the Bible and in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the writer opened her Bible to the twenty-first chapter of John's Gospel and read the reply that Jesus made when Peter asked what John, the beloved disciple, should do: "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me." Then she knew what her part was. It was to follow the Master up to her highest understanding and to let her fellow workers do the same.

Jesus told his disciples that if they loved him they would keep his commandments. When the scribe asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment of all, he answered him thus (Mark 12:29-31): "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Mrs. Eddy, understanding the import of Jesus' words, writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 113), "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love." So if we would do our part, we must love God supremely, and by doing so we shall better love our neighbor.

When the tabernacle was built in the wilderness, Moses spoke in this fashion to the children of Israel (Ex. 35:5): "Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it." And we are told, "They came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted." Each brought an offering of whatever he could— gold, silver, brass, wood, goats' hair, fine linen—and each gave willingly. This account showed the writer that when she brought her offering, whether it was small or great, much or little, she must do it willingly, gratefully, cheerfully. She must not be envious or jealous of her brother if he should bring a better gift, but instead she must strive to improve her own offering and thus make it more acceptable.

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