Article September 28, 1974 Issue

Ability Is God-given

LARNED L. TUTTLE

Early in my aircraft manufacturing career, when I was working as a tool designer, my boss unexpectedly put me in charge of tool manufacturing. Stunned, I protested I knew nothing about this end of the business. He agreed, but said he had no one better qualified to fill the job. He immediately sent me to the shop, where work was just beginning on a substantial tool-building program.

As I contemplated the situation, all the seemingly insurmountable problems began surging up in my thought. I just didn't see how I could possibly handle the assignment. However, as a student of Christian Science, I saw the inadequacy of my thinking—a negative attitude was not the proper approach. I realized that I could do whatever was required of me, provided I relied on God's guidance.

An incident from the Bible came to mind. "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Christ Jesus' answer implied that he knew his knowledge came from God and not from formal rabbinical training or from himself. He said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."^{John 7:14-16;}

Send a comment to the editors