Article July 15, 1967 Issue

The Work That Rests Us

WILLIAM P. BARNEY

Almost everyone works, but to some of us our work seems a wearisome task. How can we make our activity more satisfying, fruitful, and joyous? The answer which Christian Science gives is simple: by becoming spiritually conscious of our true relation to God and His creation. Though simple, this answer is profound and presupposes a recognition that our real work in the world is the furtherance of the purposes of good, of God.

Humanly speaking, work is labor for a predetermined end, and each of us must determine this end. It certainly should not be that described in the Bible by the Preacher who in his dark hour of disillusionment wrote, "I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."^{ Eccl. 2:11;} Rather, work should be what the Preacher described when his heart was lifted to see a truer sense of man's relation to his Maker. Then he wrote that one "should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.... For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy."^{ vv. 24, 26;}

With wholehearted dedication to good we can turn our labor into that work to which Mrs. Eddy refers when she writes, "The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work."^{ Science and Health, pp. 519, 520;}

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The Work That Rests Us

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access