In order to be able to help others, one must first prepare oneself. This logic is expressed in the "Daily Prayer" in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy, where we ask a blessing first on ourselves and then on mankind: "'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 4;
Our study of Christian Science is inseparable from our search for our own real individuality. Mrs. Eddy's writings enlighten the reader, bless him, and so encourage his concern for the well-being of others. Jesus himself advises us: "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Matt. 7:5;
Traditional moral judgments make a strong distinction between egotism and altruism; both, however, include the same error. They separate people into two groups: me, and others—the former focused on "self," the latter on "others." Such a distinction is not scientific, since there is only one Mind, which we all reflect.
Wishing to help others without regard to our own spiritual progress and our own needs may conceal a subtle sense of self-justification or a lack of common sense. How can we help in the deepest sense if we have not first prepared our own thought with a correct spiritual view of the situation?
It is considered normal in Christian Science practice for practitioners to receive a proper remuneration for their work from their patients. This practicality also has a scientific basis, that of inclining the patient to the need and joy of giving according to his means.
It is certainly right to think of ourselves, if we go about it intelligently. Planning for a career, governing our affairs, choosing right paths, making practical our understanding of abundance—all this is legitimate. Our actions will benefit others when our plans are based on the fact that all real success—that which is reflected as much in health and happiness as in prosperity—is that which multiplies blessings by sharing them generously with those ready to receive them.
In reality, we are not rebellious children, liable to abuse our rights. We can expect to know how to make the proper distinction between the rational pursuit of individual progress and egotism. The former aids in humanity's advancement. The latter, by obstinately demanding what it believes to be personal advantage without wishing to give anything in return, puts a stop to personal progress. Mrs. Eddy comments on self-centered methods thus: "The wrong done another reacts most heavily against one's self. . . . Think it 'easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,' than for you to benefit yourself by injuring others." Science and Health, p. 449;
The brotherhood of man expresses the fatherhood of God. We need to demonstrate unity with our fellowman, not to separate ourselves and attempt to put ourselves in an ivory tower. Such a course would lead to loneliness, self-pity, and other such errors—feelings that are often the sources of physical problems. To think of ourselves in this way is, in fact, a sickness of mortal sense that it behooves us to heal rapidly before it has a bad effect on our experience.
Should we suffer from this mesmeric attachment to belief in a personal self, we can know that we are able to free ourselves from it. Every prayer to this end, every sincere and humble effort to be obedient to Mrs. Eddy's counsel, every consecrated search for Truth, brings us nearer the day when we can exchange personal sense for trust in God's unfailing direction and tender care. This realization will be achieved when our own and every individual's complete dependence on God becomes evident.
Christ Jesus took time to pray. He spent much time in self-preparation. The forty days of temptation in the wilderness, related in the fourth chapter of Matthew's Gospel, was an individual experience, excluding everyone else, although its impact has blessed humanity ever since. "His mission was both individual and collective," writes Mrs. Eddy. "He did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,—to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility." ibid., p. 18;
A superficial reading of the Gospels might lead us to believe that Jesus acted exclusively for others without regard for himself. But we can hold this view only if we judge Jesus' life according to the criteria of our own human experience and our own limited beliefs, considering only the human opportunities he gave up. Actually, the accomplishment of his mission must have been for him a constant source of inspiration and joy. Even his bitter experience on the cross brought him the blessings of the certitude of work well done and ultimate ascension, and he refused to accept the suggestion that he should exchange them for the easy way out and possible abandonment of his mission. An understanding of this will lead us to consider every spiritual gift an occasion for rejoicing, and every sacrifice of mortal elements and beliefs for a right idea a step of progress in the Master's way.
There is an axiom of law that "no one should be judge in his own cause." But this evidently applies to mortal sense, bounded and limited by a personal, material conception of things. To ensure his own progress, each one of us must carefully judge his thoughts each day. Keeping in mind this biblical promise will help us accept the required condition: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you . . . that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:44, 45.
The earnest desire to be more conscious of our status as children of God will lead us to see in the command "Love your enemies" an extra blessing, to which we can joyfully yield. Thus we will be in a better position to lessen the illusory difference between our advantages and those of others, and between our own and others' happiness, and to see our own and another's good as both deriving from God. This is the scientific way for each one to realize ever more clearly the wholeness of his individual spiritual identity.
Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household
of God; and are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone.
