Several years ago when I taught first grade in a public school, my class and I discussed the social studies topic of "community helpers." I asked the children to name some helpers. Firemen, policemen, and nurses were among those mentioned. One little boy eagerly exclaimed, "Jesus was a community helper!"
Christ Jesus provides the basic guidelines in the Sermon on the Mount for the spirit in which we too might work for the community—and the world— whether we are "community helpers" in the broad sense, as caring Christians, or specifically employed in a professional or volunteer capacity. "Take heed," he says, "that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." And he adds later, "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." Matt. 6:1, 3,4.
In Christian Science we have the basis for elevating philanthropy above material, selfish aims and desires. Our influence toward unity of goals and the successful achievement of them will be in proportion to our listening to God for guidance and divine intelligence— and following through. Mrs. Eddy says, "In love for man we gain the only and true sense of love for God, practical good, and so rise and still rise to His image and likeness, and are made partakers of that Mind whence springs the universe." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 287.
