Article January 7, 1956 Issue

DEVOTION TO GOD, DIVINE PRINCIPLE

JEANETTE F. SUTTON

Referring to the statement in the second commandment, "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God" (Ex. 20:5), one woman remarked to another that it seemed strange to apply the word "jealous" to God. Her young son, who attended the Christian Science Sunday School, and who had overheard the remark, said, "Why, Mother, that just means that God doesn't allow us to worship anything but Him."

A dictionary definition of "jealous" is, "exacting exclusive devotion." To be jealous, to exact exclusive devotion, is a divine, not a human, prerogative. Jealousy, as a mortal mind trait, brings suffering and unhappiness to the one who indulges it and often to those who are humanly close to him. This harmful trait, which has its basis in selfishness and in the erroneous belief that one's happiness is dependent upon persons, is overcome through our increased devotion to God, divine Principle. A willingness to place complete reliance on Truth, Life, and Love for one's happiness and well-being wipes out jealousy, with its accompanying traits of suspicion, resentment, and strife. In the words of an inspiring hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 263),

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