Watching Point 462

462 — WATCH lest you complain when God calls upon you for a test of true loyalty. A dog is trained by being given a bit of food as a reward, each time he obeys. The day comes when he is required to obey without the rewards. The time comes when God requires our obedience from sheer love of good, even if we get no human harmony as a reward.

It is a simple matter to want to obey God and watch thought, when rewards in human health, harmony and prosperity are promised; but Mrs. Eddy once asked this searching question (See C. S. Journal, Vol. 5, page 56), “Are Christian Scientists as faithful as the seasons, birds and flowers? . . . Will they sing in the storm? If buds of hope disclose scarcely one blossom, and birds are silent, will they yet wait and work … ?”