"Jesus was unselfish." Science and Health, p. 51; Mrs. Eddy makes this concise statement in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health. People who desire to be Jesus' followers in the deepest sense, strive to let unselfishness characterize their daily lives.
But, right here, we are faced with a challenge! If we are really to emulate Jesus' unselfishness, we must understand its source and its nature. Why was Jesus unselfish? How did his unselfishness reach out to others? As we begin to comprehend these things, our unselfishness will develop into the same Christly compassion Jesus expressed as he met the needs of those around him.
In different ways Jesus has told us that whatever good he did wasn't personal to him but was of the Father—his favorite name for God. For example, he said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth." John 5:19, 20
Jesus' unselfishness included much more than an expression of human goodness. It was a manifestation of his understanding of God's love reaching out to everyone, under all circumstances. In other words, true unselfishness is not something personal; it has its ultimate source in God, divine Love. Because of its spiritual animus, it is not limited by materialism, by social or economic conditions, by racial or educational barriers. Self-centered, matter-based thinking cannot appreciate it, and so often opposes it. But this does not obstruct its spiritual, Love-impelled activity.
Mrs. Eddy puts it this way in an address she gave in Chicago: "Love's labors are not lost. The five personal senses, that grasp neither the meaning nor the magnitude of self-abnegation, may lose sight thereof; but Science voices unselfish love, unfolds infinite good, leads on irresistible forces, and will finally show the fruits of Love." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 100;
Sometimes people ask, "What is the most unselfish thing I can do?" A good answer to that is: The most basic unselfish thing you can do is to take good care of yourself spiritually. Pray for yourself daily. Follow the example of Jesus. Establish and reestablish in consciousness your individual unity with God, divine Love. Strive to let this Love animate you in all you do.
Jesus took time to be alone and to pray for himself. He knew the importance of grasping afresh the spiritual nature of his being. On occasion he told his disciples to get away from the crowds, so they could rest and find spiritual refreshment.
Mrs. Eddy prayed daily for herself. Despite a busy schedule she would take whatever time she needed to gain a fresh understanding that divine Love was the source and substance of her being, inspiring and guiding her thoughts and acts. And she makes it clear that she expects her followers to do the same. She writes: "One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and elsewhere, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor on bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importunately." ibid., p. 127;
One of the most subtle arguments that would keep us from following this vitally important prayer-care is a personal sense of self. This personal sense is a counterfeit of the Christ-idea. It would deceive us and cause us to neglect, ignore, or even deny for days on end our true spiritual selfhood as the children of God. This would then rob us of our consciousness of divine Love's care for us and of our activity as Love's expression.
Just what is personal sense? A false sense of self, it is no part of God, or of God's creation; He never made it! Then it's no part of man, as God's image, and it cannot be attached to man. On this basis we can separate it from ourselves. Personal sense is wholly a fabrication of the so-called carnal, or mortal, mind. It's a lie that this mortal mind would use as a stepping-stone into our individual experience.
This false sense of self is frequently expressed in pride, stubbornness, and self-will, and it's always the opposite of unselfishness. It is the disposition to hurt and get hurt easily, to cherish hurt and display it at every opportunity, thus calling attention to self. Personal sense may try to hide self-righteousness under the garment of self-depreciation and pass that off as humility. By perverting true unselfishness it obstructs spiritual progress and casts its victim into the hell of self-centered misery.
In our prayers for ourselves, it is well to see through and denounce this demon, personal sense. It is helpful, daily, and several times a day if necessary, to humbly insist that because our life "is hid with Christ in God," Col. 3:3; so-called mortal mind cannot use its own lie of personal sense as a stepping-stone into our experience—whether it seems to be by means of a personal sense of ourselves or of someone else. Real growth in spiritual understanding requires denying all that constitutes this false sense. Surely this is unselfishness in action.
This spiritual activity of praying for ourselves, caring for ourselves, each day, pushes back the limits of our thinking. No longer is thought self-centered. It becomes God-centered, and much more universal in scope. It embraces all mankind, and we begin to reach out to help and bless others.
Now we begin to see that helping, healing, and blessing others is the inevitable outcome of true unselfishness. This impersonal healing activity cannot be confined to ourselves. Since it is an expression of divine Love, it includes everyone and everything in our consciousness. Jesus told his followers to stand ready to bless and heal others wherever in the world they found themselves. He said: "Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Luke 10:8, 9.
When Mrs. Eddy gave to the world the Church of Christ, Scientist, healing was again seen as foundational. She placed the responsibility for this prayerful healing work on each church member, wherever he was in the world, geographically, socially, economically. Each member therefore, shares the responsibility of sustaining the activity of the Christian Science movement.
As we let unselfishness develop in us, we come inevitably to the flowering of unselfishness in compassion. It is only with compassion that we tread in the pathway of the Master, Christ Jesus. Compassion is a requisite for success in Christian Science healing.
"But, just how do I express compassion?" one might ask. Just as unselfishness is not a personal possession, but characterizes God, Love, and man in His image, so compassion is further evidence of Love's activity reflected in individual being.
Compassion needn't be expressed in words. It is expressed in our very being— in our attitude toward others, in our look, our touch, our voice. Even as a silent language it communicates a vital message, letting others know that although we may not fully understand their problems, still we do care, we do want to help. There's nothing false or superficial about compassion. Derived as it is from divine Love, it is utterly sincere. The compassion we express brings the true individuality of others into sharp focus, for us and for themselves, because we are seeing each one as he really is—the wholly spiritual idea of divine Love. So, compassion, by bringing truth to light, leads to healing.
Unselfishness lifts us above the self-imposed limitations of material thought-taking and impels us to take good care of ourselves through prayer and watchfulness. It naturally expands into a love for God and man without barriers or limits. As we cultivate spirituality in ourselves, unselfishness will become natural and effective for us, as it was for Christ Jesus.
