The Reward of Faithfulness

Duncan Sinclair

How often does the sincere student of Christian Science ask himself the question, Have I been faithful enough? Possibly he has been working on a case for some time and it has not seemed to respond to treatment as he would have liked—what can be the reason? That he has a considerable understanding of God, divine Principle, he feels certain; that he has endeavored to put that understanding into practice in the case, he feels sure—why then have not the results been greater? These questions are salutary; and it is right that the Christian Scientist should address them to himself.

There is a consideration which it were well to weigh carefully: To what extent are we, in our daily lives, living in accordance with the divine Principle which Christian Science reveals, and of which we have gained an understanding? Of this we can be certain, that our faithfulness to this understanding will determine our ability to demonstrate the healing power of Truth. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 283 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "We must receive the divine Principle in the understanding, and live it in daily life; and unless we so do, we can no more demonstrate Science, than we can teach and illustrate geometry by calling a curve a straight line or a straight line a sphere." Our Leader lays great stress on the necessity of living in accord with divine Principle in order to demonstrate divine Science, and so to reap its fruits.

Consider what it means to "live it [divine Principle] in daily life." An understanding of Principle means an understanding of God as All-in-all, as infinite good, and, consequently, of God's creation as spiritual and perfect. It also means that we are in agreement with divine Science, which asserts that because God, Spirit, is infinite good, matter or evil is unreal. The question then is, Are we endeavoring to live in accordance with these great and fundamental truths? If we are making the constant effort, and succeeding, then our lives are being lived at a high spiritual level, and our success in healing will be correspondingly great. Our demonstration of Principle rises no higher than our understanding of Principle.

Many seem to fall short of what Principle demands. They will talk fluently of the infinite goodness and love of God; they will denounce the claims of evil and speak glibly of evil's nothingness; but what of the spiritual level of their lives? How can they justify those grievous lapses into the denunciation of persons, into fear of disease, into dread of evil? Christian Science demands of its followers a tremendously steady and high spiritual level of life. And why not, since it has given us such a profound, such an exact, such a demonstrable understanding of Principle? And steadiness of living, based on the highest possible understanding of divine Science, is necessary to ensure reliable results in the healing work, which principally distinguishes Christian Science from other religious systems to-day.

The temptations of the world are many. The Christian Scientist is aware of them, wide awake to the suggestions of evil, open or subtle, seemingly great or seemingly small. To be aware of the temptations of material sense should mean that he is alert—on guard, and ready to meet them and defeat them through his understanding of Principle. As this is done, faithfully and persistently, and one's consciousness becomes more and more spiritualized, one is proportionably able to defeat the errors of belief which are responsible for the suffering of whomsoever he may be helping. In her great Message to The Mother Church for 1901, Mrs. Eddy writes on pages 9 and 10, "He of God's household who loveth and liveth most the things of Spirit, receiveth them most; he speaketh wisely, for the spirit of his Father speaketh through him; he worketh well and healeth quickly, for the spirit giveth him liberty: 'Ye shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free.'"

In that marvelous compendium of spiritual instruction, the Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus points to the inevitable results of righteousness. He says, as Matthew records in the seventh chapter of his Gospel: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Throughout practically the whole of his discourse the Master is stating the laws of the spiritual life, pleading for obedience to them, and making clear the reward of that obedience. Christian Science is faithful to the Sermon on the Mount, faithful to all of Christ Jesus' teachings. It therefor asks of its followers the obedience to Truth and Love and good the Master demands, assuring them of the fruits of healing which must come to them as the reward of their faithfulness.

Duncan Sinclair

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