Service is a divine idea. It is an idea of that Mind which is the only source of the inspiration, love, humility, purity, fidelity, and constancy which characterize one who is the true minister to mankind. Separated from these qualities service would be only a spurious counterfeit of the divine. Being a divine idea service is quite unlike servitude. It is never unwilling, grudging, or self-seeking. It is always unselfish, free, and joyous. It is at once meek and mighty; it is humble in its obedience to law, and majestic in its serenity and confidence. Service is unvarying and infallible. It is courageous and enduring. It is impartial, just, honest, merciful, loving, ample, abundant. It is universal, unlimited, untiring, uninterrupted.
The true idea of service, as it is revealed in Christian Science, has already freed many to a great extent from the bondage of mere servitude. As the individual discerns more clearly the right idea in serving he is correspondingly freed from the sordid, selfish sense of it. This freedom is, to human sense, gained gradually; but with persistence and faithfulness its achievement will be complete. In the master Christian, Jesus of Nazareth, is found the perfect example of a true servant. He came to save from all that is false, including a false sense of service. His rebuke to self-seeking was, "Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." Without his willingness to serve mankind his ministry would have been like that of his professed followers who are content with preaching, and apparently lack the desire or ability to practice what they preach. Mrs. Eddy estimates the worth of his example with wonderful conciseness when she says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 25), "The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus." Her ability to discern the true worth of the career of Jesus was doubtless responsible in a great degree for the fact that she in her time became a most valued servant of humanity. The world is beginning to acknowledge her life work as a marvelous example of constant, unselfish, intelligent, loving ministry to mankind. Her service was effectual and productive of glorious results because it was divinely inspired and unselfishly performed.
All down the ages there have been those who were ready to serve, not for reward but for pure love of mankind. True service is not, however, without its reward. "The work of righteousness shall be peace," says Isaiah, and there can, obviously, be no true service without the inspiration of right ideals. This right doing and the reward are, therefore, inseparable. The true servant does not work for reward, but he receives it. His is that peace which the world cannot give and cannot take away. The reward of the real servant of mankind is quite apart from matter, and in no way depends upon persons or circumstances. The reward of true service comes from the "Father of lights, with whom is no variableness," and in whom is no lack, either of ability or willingness to reward right motives and right doing. A recognition of this fact on the part of the servant results invariably in his receiving a suitable recompense for the duty required.
