Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.
~ Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 192
Selfishness is weakness. Unselfishness is strength, poise, and dominion.
Live empowered! Live unselfishly.
I know that all our right desires come from God and will be satisfied by God. Recently I desired to know more clearly how I might be more selfless to my neighbor, family, friends and even to those I should love more. This morning I heard in a CS talk that God surely answes every prayer. Here and there I had the feeling, “oh that what I did might have been unselfish”. And I was happy.
Thank you very much dear Evan for this SpiritView and the truthwords “Unselfishness is strength, poise and dominion.” Oh how much do we need these spiritual qualities!! Prayer and listening enable us to express the very needed and desired divine qualities!
Recently, while reading the Big Book of the spiritual program Alcoholics Anonymous, I came across a chapter which speaks directly to the subject at hand. The book quotes “Any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.”
The book uses this analogy to highlight the flaws of relying strictly on self-propulsion and self-reliance. It outlines how this ego-centric way of living creates conflict, resentment, and unmanageability. And might I add…disease. It teaches that no human help can free us from the compulsion and that a radical reliance on a God of our understanding is the only solution.
The proposed solution is to quit “playing God” and instead turn your will and your life over to the care of a Higher Power. I like this 12-step program’s idea that we must surrender to God’s will one day at a time. (A God of our own understanding, who is revealed in the program’s first 3 steps, despite what we think we know, a lot of what we practice has been indoctrinated into us.) I find the phrases “Let go and Let Go”, and “One day at a time” help me better understand that I cannot go it alone in this human life. This program teaches what Jesus said “I can of mine own self do nothing.”MBE said “Divine Truth, Life, and Love gave Jesus Divine authority over sin, sickness and death.” SH 144:27 Jesus first taught us to “Let go and Let God.”
She further went on to say “When the science of being is understood, every man will be his own physician and Truth will be the Universal panacea. I believe we are all capable of hearing God speak.
“I also have heard God speak directly to me because I am receptive. There is but one ultimate authority–a loving God as He may express himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” Some of us struggle in our human experience with false beliefs of a stronghold of one thing or another. I find it immensely helpful to surround myself with those who share how they have overcome many of the human challenges that have kept me stuck simply by living surrener, tolerance, unselfed Love and acceptance.
If I am truly trusting God, I will hear his voice and follow where He leads me. To that I mimic Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9-10) with a humble and receptive heart “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”
Study of Science & Health (MBE) explained to me the powerful spirituality of the 12 Step programs: divine Love expressed through others, directly through a relationship with a power greater than myself (a loving God as I understand God), and ultimately through myself to others in need.
Thanks for the great quotes from the Big Book of AA.
“While Bill Wilson and Mary Baker Eddy lived in entirely different eras, Wilson (co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) extensively studied Eddy’s writings.” AI
Thanks, Murph Elliott.
Divine Love IS the only authority.
Very interesting Murph, thank you. I, too, have read The Big Book and found it very inspiring.
Love today’s message Evan, thank you. ❣️
Good morning. Can anyone shed more light on what Mrs. Eddy actually means by “whatever holds thought” and “receives directly the divine power.” What is it that holds our thought in line with unselfish love? Isn’t it God that holds our thought in its proper true place? And if we identify that it is God that is keeping our thought aligned with Love, then are we saying He is what receives the power? God already has all power. Maybe I’m reading it too literally or materially but in a SIMPLE way, what is she saying? Thanks all.
Hi Rose – Thank you for your question; it really made me think! I looked up what precedes that sentence and it is “We walk in the footsteps of Truth and Love by following the example of our Master in the understanding of divine metaphysics. Christianity is the basis of true healing. Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.” (Science and Health p. 192:27). So, to me, what holds our thought in line with unselfed love is imitating our Master, Christ Jesus. And so I asked myself, what does that entail? Well, Love is what Jesus demonstrated in everything he did, so I think love for God and man is the key. Also Jesus was the most humble person who ever trod the globe, so humility is certainly needed. He also didn’t let error tempt him. So being alert to what would tempt us to be selfish or unloving is needed. I’m sure you can think of more of these qualities that gave Jesus his divine power.
Thank you for bringing this up. I really inspired me think this through.
Thank you Jenny for your thoughtful reply in this conversation. And many thanks to Evan from always opening new spiritual insights for us to “live by” with joy.
It just means to me that whatever we do with unselfed love –
even if someone seems unpleasant or not deserving love,, just because we are the reflection of divine Love, and therefore cannot help loving, we have al the power of divine Love with us. God does not see anyone as unlovable or unlike Himself. It is
not a personal sense of love, not human, but divine. It is
just because it is our true nature to love as His reflection.. God just loves, That is the Love that heals – just the way that Christ Jesus healed unconditionally. So if we keep our thoughts in line with unselfed Love, we do receive directly the divine Power. We have the mind of Christ, which is not mortal but immortal.
That line has been puzzling to me at times, but when I insert “Christliness” or a variation thereof it makes sense to me. “Christ” the divine manifestation of God which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error. S&H p 583.
dear Rose, if I look to the German translation of “unselfed love”, it says ” A love which is loosened from mortel self, receives directly the divine Power.” Perhaps it’s a bit better understandable so.
Rose, I also am grateful that your question made me dive a bit deeper into that sentense.
And I also thank you very much, Jenny Wiersba for your enlightened and inspiring comment. It’s very true!
Evan, I’m very thankful for your very inspiring and healing SpiritView blog! ❤️
Dear Uta, I love what you shared from the German translation! Love loosened from mortal selfhood!
Thank you!
Thank you Uta, that German translation is helpful. Is that a translation of the passage from Science & Health or a dictionary translation of the words ”unselfed love”?
And thank you to Maggie and Jenny for your thoughtful replies.
Rose, it is the translation from Science and Health. We have always the German translation on the right side and English on the left side of our German SH. Mostly the English original Text on the left Page is much clearer to me and a few other church friends who speak well English.
“When we realize that there is one Mind, the divine law of loving our neighbor as ourselves is unfolded; whereas a belief in many ruling minds hinders man’s normal drift towards the one Mind, one God, and leads human thought into opposite channels where selfishness reigns.” (Science & Health by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 205:22)
Amazing photo of the bee and flower. I love this time of year; and it always makes me think of the above statement. God expressing Himself/Herself in nature with beautiful flowering shrubs and other colorful, delicate flowers and plants that just quietly reflect and express God…no separate selfish egos, going rogue, infighting, etc. Just majestically expressing perfection, obedience, beauty, purity, form and structure. To me, symbolic of how God sees His/Her creation.
Thank you, J. I feel closer to God in the natural world – all the
treasures and beauty and divine order of everything He has made, including the bees, birds, insects etc.
It always uplifts my thoughts and inspires me watching God’s
creatures and seeing all His beautiful flowering plants, shrubs, trees and beautiful views etc. That beauty and harmony flows
throughout all His creation, in man and the whole universe, and we can see more of it unfolding as we look for it.
My husband and I used to go to France and drive around seeking
terrestrial orchids. It was amazing how many we found, and how I got to know and feel where we would find them – I would
say to my husband “stop” – so we would stop and park, and I was led to go to a certain place and there would be soe lovely orchids. It was such a lovely thing to do..
“Moving beyond ego” By Larissa Snorek. From the October 28, 2019 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2m8cr0ui75o?s=copylink
Wonderful article, J – thank you. She was also\inspired by
the beauty of nqture
Thankyou Evan, very much needed! God Expressed. Also all the comments very helpful
Thanks for all the comments.
Deborah Huebsch “What’s needed for healing” CS Journal January 1, 2025 explores unselfed love. That God gives man faith and understanding and also unselfed love.
Another of MBE statements from Science and Health p.234:4 starts with ” ‘Whatever’ inspires with wisdom, Truth or Love be it song, sermon or Science blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort from Christ’s table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty.”