Humility and Gratitude

Duncan Sinclair

IN the fifth chapter of the first epistle of Peter are the words, "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Here Peter but states in simple language what is taught on humility throughout the New Testament. For humility is inseparable from Christianity, being based on the knowledge that man is dependent upon God for life and strength and health—every good thing. When Christ Jesus said to the Jews who sought to kill him, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise," he stated the basis of Christian humility. He could do nothing of himself; the Son reflected the Father. Man, being the spiritual idea of God, is wholly dependent on God.

Christian Science unreservedly supports the teaching of Jesus. In Christian Science, God is declared to be infinite Mind, and man His image or reflection. Hence man, the real man, "can do nothing of himself;" he can but show forth the qualities of infinite Mind. What a glorious heritage! Always at one with perfect Being; always retaining his perfect identity; always harmoniously governed, man continues to reflect the qualities of eternal Mind. Man's being, his immortality, his happiness, his joy, are thus forever assured. Perceiving the truth about the real spiritual man as Christian Science reveals it, can we be other than humble; can we be other than grateful?

Genuine humility has nothing of servility about it. While Jesus was of all men the most humble, yet he was unsurpassed for his courage—the courage of his words, the courage of his deeds. The fact that Jesus' humility was based on spiritual understanding, which was absolutely correct, enabled him to think, speak, and act in a manner entirely free of personal sense. He knew that man is not a creator, not an originator. And because of this understanding he was able fearlessly to utter the great truths of being to his fellow men, calling upon them to turn from their evil ways to God, the Father, who loves man with a love that is infinite. The humility of Jesus was entirely compatible with his denunciation of wrongdoing. Without humility, indeed, he could not have exposed evil as he did, nor so clearly pointed the way to eternal life.

Humility, the genuine humility which is the offspring of spiritual understanding, is inseparable from gratitude. It is impossible for one who comprehends the truth that man can never be separated from God, infinite good, to be other than grateful. Whenever one learns through Christian Science of this indissoluble spiritual union, learns that it means that man is absolutely protected, continually blessed, perpetually sustained by perfect spiritual law, while becoming humble he also becomes grateful.

As the reflection of God, man is the possessor of unlimited good. Referring to the good we have already received, the good already revealed to us, our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes on page 3 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more." Gratitude always acts that way: it prepares us to receive more of good. Ingratitude, on the other hand, is a deterrent to the receiving of good. Who has not noticed this in everyday life? Who has not seen the ungrateful shutting themselves off from the enjoyment of good, shutting themselves off so that good cannot come nigh them? It is a question of spiritual law. We must first be grateful for the good we already have; then shall we be mentally ready to receive more.

How true it is that "God resisteth the proud"! How true, also, that He giveth grace to the humble! In the practice of Christian Science it is found that pride may prevent healing. The reason is obvious: pride, which is the offspring of a false sense of self, obscures spiritual vision, thus hiding the truth from the one deceived by it. Pride must therefore be displaced by humility, the offspring of the true spiritual sense of self. Then will be revealed the truth about omnipresent good which heals.

Christian Scientists are humbly grateful for the blessings which Christian Science has brought them. They are grateful too for the progress of Christian Science in the world, in that it is increasingly blessing mankind in wonderful ways. But they do not allow themselves to forget their Leader's words (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 134), "The unprecedented progress of Christian Science is proverbial, and we cannot be too grateful nor too humble for this, inasmuch as our daily lives serve to enhance or to stay its glory." How significant are her words: it is our lives which attest our humility and our gratitude!

Duncan Sinclair

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