The so-called human mind looks to a reward for well-doing, and too often expects this reward to be given by persons and expressed in terms of material values, or else through personal recognition. To reward well-doing is commendable, and to express gratitude for it is most essential. But it is not a natural instinct of human nature to be thankful; and until awakened to this fact, there is many a disappointment in the heart of those who are richly entitled to a reward, or at least to some expression of gratitude. Parents who have sacrificed much for their children find sometimes that the children when grown have other interests and do not fully appreciate all that was done for them. Faithful employees have been discharged without notice. Inventors and explorers, who have endured great hardships, have been neglected and forgotten. Many a reformer and Christian hero has blessed the world, only to receive, apparently, misjudgment and ingratitude in return.
Brooding over the world's lack of appreciation, however, will never awaken the world to do better, or bring about right rewards. Gratitude cannot be gained through a demand for it:: it must spring from the heart. Our selfless, loving Master, Christ Jesus, continued to bless the world unto the end. He did not stop healing because only one of the lepers whom he had healed returned to give him thanks. He worked to glorify the Father and to bless humanity: he was applying the divine law of Love, and producing its fulfillment without consideration of what mortals might do for him in return. He gave his human sense of life for the world; and though the world requited him with scorn and abuse, yet through the crucifixion he won the spiritual recompense of the ascension. In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 281), "I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything."
Not to humanity, then, but in the heart of divinity may we look for the sure reward of well-doing. Overcoming ingratitude with love, we can no more escape Love's rich compensations than when turning on the light in the darkness we can escape the consequent illumination. For every loving thought and every good deed there is a spiritual recompense. For faithfulness over a few things, what a reward has been promised—even the rule over many things! The reward of self-mastery, is it not peace and power? The reward of obedience to Spirit, is it not inevitable success? The meek, the pure, the peacemakers, those who hunger after righteousness, and about whom all manner of evil things are said—are they to go unrewarded? Nay, they are under the law of divine Love's fulfillment; they shall be comforted and inherit the earth, for they are looking heavenward, from whence they shall be filled with righteousness. As a reward for right doing, what can compare with a spiritualized consciousness, radiant with grace, peace, and power? Requited by the angels of divine Love is he who has blessed even the unthankful without expectation of returns. Well, then, could the Master say to all in whose lives the Beatitudes are being graciously fulfilled, "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven."
