"The last shall be first"

George Shaw Cook

The parable of the workers in the vineyard was told by Jesus to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven. In this parable it is related that certain men were employed by the owner of the vineyard, early in the day, to work at an agreed price. Later, others were engaged at the same price, and finally, at "the eleventh hour," still others were employed. When evening came, those who were employed last were paid first, and at the same rate as those who had "borne the burden and heat of the day." To this there was objection, but the lord of the vineyard replied, "The last shall be first, and the first last."

Some readers of this parable, because of a keen human sense of justice, may have rebelled at what appeared to them to be unfairness on the part of the employer in paying all the workers the same amount, regardless of the length of time they had labored. This, it may have been argued, is entirely contrary to equity and is not in harmony with approved human methods. Thus they have missed the lesson Jesus intended to convey when he related the parable.

Viewed in the light of Christian Science, the parable in question is understood as an apt illustration of the nature of God's kingdom. On page 590 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gives the following definition: "Kingdom of Heaven. The reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme." This shows plainly that heaven is a state of consciousness governed absolutely by Mind, Spirit, Soul—the Principle of harmony, justice, and righteousness. Such a state, obviously, can be attained only through understanding the divine facts of being. When these spiritual facts are revealed to individual consciousness, the accompanying sense of harmony, which constitutes heaven, immediately appears. It does not matter in the least whether the individual has gained this conscious state of harmony later than others, or whether others have seemed to enjoy it longer than he. It is the understanding of divine Love's impartiality and universality which at once establishes a perfect sense of equality and unity.

Understanding of the universally available nature of divine Principle and its eternal law of perfection and equality instantly does away with the thoughts of precedence, superiority, inferiority, and other erroneous beliefs which tend to create and perpetuate a sense of separation, class prejudice, suspicion, envy, jealousy, and strife. And knowledge of spiritual equality based upon the fact that, absolutely speaking, all men are brethren, begins at once to establish a scientific sense of brotherhood. And Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., pp. 469, 470), "With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science."

Those who have been many years students and practitioners of Christian Science, sometimes make the mistake of entertaining misgivings with regard to the ability of younger students to prove their understanding. This may even lead, in some instances, to an effort on the part of older students to monopolize the practitioners' work in a particular field, or to assume that none other than themselves are capable of carrying on church activities satisfactorily.

While experience in any line of work is valuable, it does not necessarily follow that only those of longer experience are capable of doing things acceptably. The fact is that understanding of God as the one and only source of all inspiration, intelligence, ability, and capacity is that which gives one power to demonstrate Truth in any department of activity. And it makes no difference whether this understanding may have come to one sooner or later. The fact that one has it, and can prove it, is the thing that counts.

In the realm of divine Principle there is nothing relative or comparative. Everything exists at the point of perfection and completeness, now. Man does not have to become the likeness of God. He is now, and has always been, God's perfect, spiritual image. The Apostle John knew this when he wrote (I John 3:2), "Beloved, now are we the sons of God."

God, Mind, Spirit, Love, does not bestow upon one more of understanding or of ability than upon another. As our Leader tells us, on pages 12 and 13 of Science and Health: "In divine Science, where prayers are mental, all may avail themselves of God as 'a very present help in trouble.' Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals."

George Shaw Cook

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"The model for human action"

June 3, 1939

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