It sometimes seems as though the members of the human race had almost made an occupation of looking up to certain chosen ones, whom they deem superior to themselves, and looking down on the remainder. A truly Christlike person dislikes being regarded as an object of worship or adoration. He knows that God alone may be so regarded. He also is unwilling to be patronized or looked down upon, because he knows he is striving to demonstrate his sonship with God, which effort is worthy of any man's respect. He knows that if he maintains the level gaze of brotherly love toward all mankind, he may rightfully expect to bring out in others the same loving attitude.
A Christian Science practitioner could never hope to heal a person whom he believed to be possessed of spiritual advantages denied to himself. Someone may come to the practitioner whom the world holds in high regard because of his statesmanship, social position, or wealth, but if in spite of these human advantages he still believes himself to be ill, unhappy, or sinful, then he comes to Christian Science for the one thing he lacks.
What is this one thing he is without? It is Christlike abandonment of the material for the spiritual. It is that quality which "a certain ruler" lacked. Christians are all familiar with Jesus' observation to this man: "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
