The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-09-18
Right Motives and Aims

"UMAN thought and endeavor are
constantly tending toward a
goal. No sooner is an objective
attained than another is pursued. In
the struggle for attainment, moral
mercury is tested, and it rises or falls
according to the purpose and motive
of the individual. Strife which has
as its goal personal power, personal
advantage, personal success, is en-
gendered in the frigid zone of selfish
ness and sends the moral mercury
downward, whereas strife for the
betterment of humanity, in which
ones own good is allied with that
of every other individual, is be-
gotten of heart that CLOVIS with the
sunshine of unsettled love, where the
moral mercury tends ever upward.
Human experience is beset with
temptation, and each one must de-
eide for himself whether he will
serve God or mammon. "No man can
serve two masters" declared Christ
Jesus: "for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he
will hold to the one, and despise the
other" Matthew 6:24). When Moses
undertook to lead the children of
Israel out of Egyptian bondage, he
found it necessary in the perilous
journey through the wilderness to
establish strict moral code as a
standard for thought and action, and
he received from God the divinely
inspired Decalogue, or the Ten Com
mandments. This code admits of no
divided allegiance. 1t calls for I'm
qualified love for God and man.
"Half-love," said the poet, "will not
bide the Storm" He whose purpose
is to conform his life to the Sinaitic
pattern will emerge from every con-
quest of error stronger and better
equipped for the service of God and
humanity, whereas selfishness weak
ems moral stamina and undermines
the capacity for true service. Greed,
fear, pride, and willfullness thrive in
the soil of selfish ambition, while
selfless service yields in ever-in-
creasing abundance the fruits of
righteousness = confidence, courage,
steadfastness, joy, love, and allied
virtues, which reflect divine Mind. !
Selfish pursuits have only human
will for their sanction and support.
Therefore their limited achievements
fail of permanent good. True service,
service for the spiritual betterment
of mankind, has divine authority,
for God is Love. Gods purpose and
plan for His children are always
good. His blessings are universal
and impartial. Hence any endeavor
which is based on a desire to do the
greatest good to the greatest number
is sanctioned by divine Love and
supported by omnipotence. 1t there
fore cannot fail of fruition. When
ones effort is aligned with Gods
purpose, true success is sure.
In proportion to the selflessness of
motive and purpose are the fruits of
labor enriched and the opportunities
for serving increased. Fright mo-
tives give pinions to thought, and
strength and freedom to speech and
action" writes Mary Baker Eddy on
page Asa of the Christian Science
textbook, Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures" The worker
whose motive is right, because it is
based on divine Principle, need
never fear a lack of ability to per-
form the task which God leads him
to do. Patience and humility will
attain the mental and moral stature
commensurate for the occasion.
Likewise one whose motive is God
inspired never lacks opportunity for
service. True service always finds
expression, whether it takes the form
of simple smile or the lifting of
heavy burden. The man whose chief
desire is to serve God and humanity
stands before an open door which
neither age nor circumstance can
close. lmbued with the love which
reflects divine Love, such one
shrinks not from responsibility; and.
supported by an unfolding under
standing of the omnipotence, omni-
science, and omnipresence of God,
divine Mind, he is not weakened by
fear, hindered by pride, or hardened
by failure. Spiritual confidence and
courage are his to strengthen his
steps and steady his hand for the
performance of whatever task is be-
fore him. He acknowledges no ham
dicap, accepts no permanent defeat.
Obstacles and trials only sharpen the
edge of endeavor, and from defeat he
learns the way to win the victory
over error through gaining a higher
understanding of God, divine Prin-
ciple.
Human history shows that those
who have accomplished most of last
ing good are those who have loved
God and reflected Him in their think
ing and living. And SO it will ever
be, for Love is God.
--The Christian Science Monitor.