In the filling of various positions in government, business, and other organizations, responsibility may rest upon individuals through the ballot or executive appointment. How shall wise selections be made? This is often a perplexing problem unless the scientific and impersonal method for solving it is followed. An instance of this is set forth in the seventeenth chapter of Numbers.

Moses became the leader of the children of Israel because he was the meekest of men; but as he was slow of speech, Aaron was selected by God to speak for Moses. Each had distinguishing qualities, and these qualities were essential and invaluable at certain stages for the successful progress of the Israelites out of servitude to Egyptian taskmasters. Neither could have done the work of the other, nor would either have been fitted for his individual position had these necessary qualities been overshadowed by self-seeking or rivalry; for such false qualities are always destructive of progress. This is illustrated in the experience of the children of Israel. An intruding suggestion of jealousy and ambition for higher position caused certain of them to protest against Moses and Aaron being their leaders, and brought forth an accusation that these leaders had lifted themselves up among their brothers to rule over them. Destruction came upon these rebellious children, and to quiet the discontent thus aroused among their sympathizers Moses turned their attention from leadership and position to orderly selection according to divine decree.

He directed that a rod engraven with the name of the prince of each tribe in Israel be laid within the tabernacle. Aaron's name was to be written on the rod representing the tribe of Levi and laid with the other rods, that God might indicate His choice by causing one of these rods to blossom. This was done, and the following day it was found that Aaron's rod had "budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." Only one rod had blossomed and evidenced fruition, indicating that Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, was the one right person fitted to fulfill the office of high priest.

In making appointments today the scientific or divine method is available. Spiritual fitness is the qualification which should be considered. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 130) Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has written: "Know ye not that he who exercises the largest charity, and waits on God, renews his strength, and is exalted? Love is not puffed up; and the meek and loving, God anoints and appoints to lead the line of mankind's triumphal march out of the wilderness, out of darkness into light."

We may observe that Aaron's rod went through an orderly process, for the rod first budded and blossomed and then bore almonds. A mistaken sense of friendship, of loyalty, or of personal obligation might unwisely attempt to place a friend in a certain position in business, community, or church, when this person's thought was not yet ripe for that experience. Such an appointment, though accepted with generous willingness to serve, might send such a one through the untimely frosts or blight of criticism, of inexperience or unpreparedness. Mental fruit-bearing requires not only an acceptance of spiritual truth but also assimilation of the truth through demonstration. Stable growth proceeds according to divine order. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 298) Mrs. Eddy says, "False belief cannot destroy Science armed with faith, hope, and fruition."

There was but one Jesus of Nazareth, he who is known as the Messiah or Saviour; one woman, Mary Baker Eddy, who was fitted to give the Science of Christianity to a waiting world. Likewise, in any human situation, when a position is to be filled, there is the right appointment according to fitness under God's guidance; and with what cheerful expectancy each one can wait on God for guidance, undisturbed by hampering false responsibility, self-depreciation, or self-exaltation. Each of the Israelitish princes let his name go within the tabernacle for choosing; all twelve were available, but one at that time was spiritually qualified for this office.

At one time in a Christian Science church in a small community there seemed no one available to do the caretaker's work. One member, who had received health and activity through the healing ministry of Christian Science, volunteered to do this work. In a short time, however, when the meeting for election of church officers was held, she was elected one of the Readers. Humility, love, and gratitude were needed in the reading, as well as in the preceding position; and when these qualities had been tested and proved by the willingness to work in the way of God's appointing, they were called for in a larger activity.

The way of His appointing is not the way of human policies and methods, of popularity or influential friendship. It is the way of holiness, the way of selfless service, of humility and childlike dependence on the Father.

The beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement was obedient to this method of divine appointing. Waiting always for divine direction, advancing only when Truth bade her go forward, she established for the Sunday church service, in the form of impersonal preachers for all time, the Lesson-Sermons, "uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses, and divinely authorized" (Christian Science Quarterly, Explanatory Note).

When elections are conducted according to God's guidance as to the spiritual qualification of candidates for positions of responsibility, gratifying results will then appear which will bless all concerned.