Simple Lessons

How often we are tempted to use human will-power or appeal to human protection when a condition of error seems to confront us, instead of turning for guidance or deliverance to divine Mind,— the only power that can save.

Not long since in a business transaction error seemed to be manifested, and after wrestling with it in a mortal-sense way for some time, I saw dimly, and somewhat tardily I confess, that I was “casting my net on the wrong side,” so I turned to the Bible concordance and looked up the word “fear.”

The reference which brought me help was Genesis, 32:11.

I studied the account of Jacob as given in that chapter, and saw clearly that I had been doing just as he did: relying upon material sense for help, appealing to a finite god for protection, and thus making real to my own thought an adversary against whom I must advance.

Jacob, fearing his own concept of Esau, tried to appease it with material gifts, and by human excuses tried to quiet his own cowardice; but our text-book says it was not until “an angel, a message from Truth and Love, appeared to him, and smote the sinew, or strength, of his error, till it became powerless” (Science and Health, p. 308), that he was able to go forward to meet the foe, really to find there was no foe. This lesson learned, I turned upon my difficulty only to find there was none, for the business was transacted harmoniously.

This experience taught me not only the necessity of turning to divine Mind for help in trouble, but it taught me also the importance of a closer study of the Bible. Scarcely a problem comes to us for solution whose counterpart cannot be found in the Scriptures. With the light which Science and Health throws upon the sacred writings, we may, if we earnestly seek, find our answer therein.

The story of David and Goliath, as told in the Scriptures, will help us to realize in our daily work, that no matter where we may be placed, nor how overwhelming may seem the circumstances, if we use the understanding we have, and rely not on human aid, but turn to God for help, we shall be saved.

There are advancing steps discernible in David’s conquest First, he recognized “the omnipotence of Truth, which illustrates the impotence of error” (Science and Health, p. 454). One of our greatest temptations is the tendency to see the claim of error as a reality, and fear it, while the correct solution lies in understanding its nothingness, and saying as did David, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Second, he refused to go forth in Saul’s armor,— refused to be weighed down with helps, which he had not proved. This is in line with the words of our text-book, “When the spiritual sense of Truth unfolds her harmonies to you, take no risks in the policy of error” (Science and Health, p. 452) Christian Scientists are accused of being “narrowminded” because they read and study so closely the Bible and the works of Mrs. Eddy, often to the exclusion of much else; but with a Goliath to meet every day, who can risk untried armor?

Again, he used the weapons he had at hand. Not with the sword of Saul, but with the shepherd’s sling, David overcame the enemy. The writer recalls with what eagerness she tried, when first beginning the study of Christian Science, to make demonstrations exactly like those of which she heard, and with what apparent failure she went on, until the thought was unfolded that this was a matter requiring individual effort and scientific understanding, and that there is no “short way” to heaven through another’s demonstration. Now, looking backward over three years’ study of Science, she sees that the solution of every problem has been wrought out on this basis.

Then, David answered the boastfulness of Goliath with the arguments of Truth, relying absolutely on God to deliver him. To meet with calmness, fearlessness, and love, the various forms of error which confront us daily, requires a courage born of God; demands a strength God-bestowed; and needs a love obtained only through the understanding that God is Love.

Further, David did not wait until the Philistine was upon him, but he “hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the enemy.” Here we see the necessity, not only of facing error fearlessly, but of forestalling its attack; and no half way indifferent blow will do the work either, but we must deny its power “in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”

Finally, David did not leave the field until he saw that the giant was beheaded; in other words, he destroyed every vestige and trace of the error, just as we must do if we expect to overcome evil.

That David did not listen to his brothers who tried to dissuade him from the undertaking, is of no little significance to Christian Scientists, for this form of error is to be met at every turn of the road leading upward, and that his strength had been tried in the encounter with the lion and bear is also significant.

We learn from the first experience not to allow ourselves to be kept from doing a duty through fear of the envy or ridicule of those who lack the moral courage to undertake the task; while from the second, we see the necessity of demonstrating every step of the way out of error into truth.

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”