Many of the demands made on nations and individuals seem burdensome. The college student must gain knowledge in his field to prepare for some profession, and at the same time he must maintain his social standing. The housewife should maintain a well-kept home and also be an active community supporter. The businessman must meet competition and still maintain the quality of his product. There is no doubt that progressive and worthy demands must be fulfilled, but men faced with contrary requirements are apt to wonder which demands are most important.
Mrs. Eddy clearly states what the legitimate demands on man are. She writes in Science and Health (p. 184), "Truth, Life, and Love are the only legitimate and eternal demands on man, and they are spiritual lawgivers, enforcing obedience through divine statutes. Controlled by the divine intelligence, man is harmonious and eternal."
When a demand seems overwhelming to us, we may well ask: "Is this demand expressing Truth, Life, and Love? Is this demand just, vital, and moral? Does it verify, actuate, and honor Principle?" If the answer is Yes, then it is a demand which expresses the will of our heavenly Father, and it includes the divine properties and impetus to fulfill it. If it seems impossible for us to fulfill a legitimate demand, we are not acknowledging the source or the provisions of the demand. Our Father's will embodies mighty, positive forces, which destroy any materialism that would claim to thwart spiritual ascendancy.
The Bible tells of Moses, who was called by God to go into Egypt to talk with Pharaoh and deliver the children of Israel from oppression. It was Moses' desire to fulfill this demand; but mistrusting himself, he did not feel capable of doing it and said (Ex. 3:11), "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
God assured him, saying: "Certainly I will be with thee," and, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
In the light of revelation Moses must have realized God's absolute self-existence, His allness. However, it was not enough for Moses merely to view the revelation of Truth. He was required to go forward into Egypt and stanchly prove the spiritual facts revealed to him. Moses felt the value of obedience to God's demands as step by step he led the children of Israel to the Promised Land.
Sometime ago the writer complied with a more simple but nevertheless legitimate demand. There was a shortage of teachers in a nearby elementary school, and a friend urged her to take a position. At first the writer thought of her responsibilities as a homemaker and of her college training in business economics, not in teaching. But desiring to be helpful she prayed for guidance, and right reasoning caused her to realize that true ability is the gift of God. She felt qualified to teach where the need existed, so she applied for a position.
It was midterm in the school year, and she was given a class which had previously seen their teacher show disrespect to school officials. The class appeared unadapted to diligent study. The first few days were a trial, for the pupils said they wanted to make it difficult for the new teacher so that she would leave and the former one would return.
As a Christian Scientist the writer held fast to the truth in study and prayer, not only in the beginning days but throughout the entire semester. She was led to present the class with colorful and enlightening projects which arrested their interest. At the end of the year both the pupils and the school officials expressed gratitude for the standards of teaching and the good results.
The following year the school's principal spoke of this class at a parent-teachers meeting, saying that an untrained teacher with a will to do good had achieved academic standards not always attained by well-trained teachers.
God-given ability was more than adequate to meet all the demands of this experience, and the value of learning to depend wholeheartedly on Him has been of inestimable value as the writer has gone into other lines of endeavor.
We are never depleted by fulfilling the demands of Life, Truth, and Love. When we are expressing the life of Life, the truth of Truth, and the love of Love, we are expressing the inexhaustible source of good, God. God is eternally expressing His nature in multitudinous ideas.
One of His infinite ideas is Church. It certainly is God's demand that we uphold the human manifestation of this spiritual idea. We are all capable of fulfilling the demand to sustain our church through the impulsion of God, the great I am. The spiritual idea, Church, is conceived by God in Truth and Love. The spiritual elements which compose it proceed from Him, and the competency to demonstrate them rests in Mind, which man reflects. Truly meeting the demands of being a Christian Scientist means acknowledging His control of our thinking, action, and surroundings. This naturally includes one's accepting appointments to fill church positions, though they appear difficult, time consuming, or sometimes even insignificant.
Serving our church—supporting it financially, metaphysically, and functionally— does not deplete the resources of any individual. Instead, it enlarges the spiritual receptivity of the one in service, enabling him to give more to his family, his community, and the world. The Christian Scientist's resources are not limited personal possessions, for he depends on spiritual substance, which is in clear view each moment that one is serving infinite Spirit.
The mother of a family living in a small town served alternately in almost every office of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, all during the years her children were of school age. She served as First Reader, member of the executive board, Sunday School superintendent and teacher, Wartime Worker in World War II, and so on. The family did not feel a lack of love or of care while she was taking part in these church activities.
Often the children helped her with small tasks and thus learned to express godliness in practical ways. Meanwhile their father's business brought financial prosperity to them. The children of this family are now adults, actively serving in their respective branch churches, and the mother is now a consecrated practitioner. A fact worth noting is that this church and family were in a town notorious for legalized gambling and its accompanying material values.
The fulfillment of the righteous demands which appear in business, society, and government are realized when we put the service of God and His Christ uppermost in our hearts. The legitimate demands we feel are never paradoxical, for they all lead us to glorify the beauteous ways of Life, Truth, and Love.
Job spoke of God's intent in us with these words (23:6, 14): "Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me....For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."
