Article May 4, 1957 Issue

THE WIDOW'S MITE AND TESTIMONY MEETINGS

MARGARET CASE PAULUS

Every Bible student is familiar with the story of the widow's mite as recorded by Mark and Luke. Usually the important lesson in this account of a woman giving all her money into the temple treasury is used to point out the necessity of unselfish financial support of the church. However, cannot this well-illustrated lesson also be applied to the giving of testimonies at Christian Science Wednesday testimony meetings?

Mary Baker Eddy states in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 24): "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3)."

Often the error that would keep a student from giving oral testimony and expressing gratitude to God in obedience to the Church Manual is the same false belief that may have tempted the widow: a belief of lack. Two of the main excuses used for not participating in the Wednesday testimony meetings are: "I haven't anything special to testify to," and, "I can't speak very well." Obviously both these suggestions are negative ones and need to be denied, not only by the person who would voice them, but by all students of Christian Science in their prayerful metaphysical support of the church services.

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