The exhortation of the Apostle Paul to Timothy centuries ago is a ringing challenge to the Christian Scientist of today: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ^{II Tim. 2:15;} Modern translations of the New Testament indicate that the Greek word translated "study" in the King James Version has more the meaning of "try hard" or "do your utmost."

Timothy was a young adult vested with many responsibilities for the development of the early Christian Church. The tasks ahead of him were momentous. There was much work to be done, and Paul's assistant must be ready. Progress lay along the disciplined path of working hard for spiritual growth and understanding.

Are we today willing to continue with a higher form of education —to learn more of the truth?

While progress in Christian Science is clearly related to study and the utilization of one's knowledge and understanding, negative and deceptive thoughts suggest that we falter, procrastinate, and offer excuses for our laziness. The suggestion is that the time for intensive study and the discipline of school experience is something that is past for us. We may feel that we are too old to learn. Like schoolboys who have peeked ahead at the more advanced discussions in the back pages of a new textbook and become discouraged by the prospects, some may try to beg off with the claim that the demands of spiritual progress are just too hard.

However, instead of cringing from the challenge to work, we can face these suggestions and fears with the experience gained from our school years. We learned then that we had first to master our schoolroom work in one grade before we could meet the requirements of more advanced work.

The schoolroom difficulties that once loomed so large in a new textbook have long since been conquered. The subjects involved no longer constitute a problem but now are seen as useful information that has proven its worth on more than one occasion. Where fear had once forecast failure, ultimate victory through hard work helped bring us satisfaction and success.

Just as Christ Jesus turned on the devil, or mortal mind, and repudiated its insidious suggestions, we too must turn on the inertia that would limit our progress in Christian Science. Then, after we have silenced the latent fears we still hold regarding work to be done, we ought to review the situation of our school years and draw helpful lessons for our present guidance. Lessons learned in this way can be the key to further growth.

For example, all of us have had some experience with the fundamentals of mathematics. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in the early pages of Science And Health With Key To The Scriptures: "Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution." ^{Science and Health, p. 3;}

Working out a mathematical problem always requires more than mere faith in, or assurance of, the existence of mathematical law. A casual acquaintance with the basic rules of arithmetic brings only a smattering of understanding into a situation. A school course requires study, application, and actual achievement. Omission of any part of the mathematical processes leaves the problem unsolved.

On the other hand, bringing the full knowledge of mathematical law to bear on a problem and recognizing that these rules have always operated universally, harmoniously, and unalterably in every circumstance always provides a right solution. Even though some lessons in our school experience may have seemed harder than others, we always gained confidence as we proved the law's correctness.

The student of Christian Science must thus recognize that the problems of this day can be overcome just as surely as those school situations of an earlier period. He must apply himself to the task of studying, learning, and demonstrating the law of God, heeding Mrs. Eddy's admonition, "The Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is honest and consistent in following the leadings of divine Mind." ^{p. 458;}

As a student, he has already found that having faith in God's power, desirable though that is, is not enough. He must develop spiritual understanding and reject every suggestion that there is an activity or an existence separate from God. While he does not conjure up errors only to destroy them, he must carefully eliminate from his own thinking any erroneous suggestion that would attempt to deny the omnipotence of God.

It is clear that effort and study are necessary to gain the understanding essential to complete a healing or solve a problem. As in the study of mathematics, only when a correct view of scientific law has been gained—arrived at through hard work—does the right solution appear.

Starting with the Bible assurance that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him," ^{Gen. 1:27;} the Christian Scientist realizes that he must grow in his understanding of Deity in order to see man correctly. Seeing God as omniscient and omnipresent Mind, he understands that man can never be other than the likeness or expression of intelligence. Realizing that God is Spirit, he finds that the man of God's creating must always be a spiritual idea without a single element that is unlike God. Understanding correctly and completely the true relationship between man and God, and working persistently to spiritualize thought and act, he is assured of healing.

In some instances problems are not solved promptly. Demonstrating Christ Jesus' teaching, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" ^{Matt. 5:48;} may seem to be indefinitely postponed. But the Christian Scientist can be sure that more study to attain a fuller understanding of Principle will bring ultimate victory. He can prove that "all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." ^{John 1:3;}

There are no exceptions or limitations to the complete operation of divine law. But we have our part to play. As has already been pointed out in Mrs. Eddy's reference to the principle of mathematics, "The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution."

The scientific relationship between God and man is already established. Individual man is a perfect reflection of God. The facts of his real being as a child of God can lie recognized and demonstrated continuously. But this understanding does not come through shallow thinking or disobedience to divine law. As in our schoolroom experience, the pathway to success is marked by effort, sincerity, and study. Each of us must recognize the value of Mrs. Eddy's instruction: "In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know. We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated." ^{Science and Health, p. 323.}