In the twenty-second chapter of Revelation we read, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Each one must learn sometime that one's right to the tree of Life must be earned through right thinking and acting. No material inheritance or legacy can obviate the necessity of each and every one earning his living.
Going through a habitual course of action or routine each day is not of itself living. Living is not necessarily success as seen in acquiring material possessions. Living is not provided for by laying aside certain amounts of money, "adding field to field," or seeing herds multiply or bonds and stocks increase. Might not those who live wholly in the thought of such things be classed as the living dead? Surely one must have interests far more spiritual to be included with those to whom Isaiah referred when he said, "The living, the living, he shall praise thee." Real living is laying up spiritual riches, and earning admittance to the kingdom of heaven is right thinking and acting, for our lives are made up of good thoughts, and the spiritual is the only real standpoint from which to view Life.
Such living is the necessity of those who understand the teachings of the Way-shower and who accept the guidance given us in the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. Thus Christian Science practitioners, realizing that to know God is eternal life, are healing the sick, binding up the brokenhearted, establishing harmony in human relationships, strengthening the weak, and destroying fear, limitation, and dishonesty, in the business world as well as in the home. They are not devoting their time to this work simply because they have nothing else to do, or can do nothing else, or because they need to maintain themselves by this work. Many of these women and men have proved their ability to do successfully other things which would bring them greater incomes so far as material compensation is concerned. If they have enough understanding to prove the practicability and availability of Truth and are successful in the healing and reformative work of Christian Science, they no doubt would be just as successful in other lines of useful activity which from a material standpoint would be far more remunerative.
