"Forget self in laboring for mankind"

As we continue with our spiritual study guide for our institutional work, our topic for May is: “Forget self in laboring for mankind;” (Mis. 155: 7 (to;))

One of our fellow servers has these thoughts to share:

Mary Baker Eddy says in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures that "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe" (p. 313:23-24).

And Jesus said about himself: “…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28). He also said: “…I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken” (John 12:49).

We see that Jesus being regarded as the most scientific man is a result of him recognizing the Father as the source of all action, inspiration and wisdom, and being obedient to the Father’s commands.

In everything Jesus did and said, in all of his actions, healings, teachings and preaching, he was demonstrating the Father’s presence and power. It was never about him, but always about the Father.

Once my daughter was surprised when I showed to her that even the words Jesus used when confronted by temptation were statements found in the Old Testament. He said: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Also he said: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matt 4:7). And once more: “...it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matt 4:10). These three quotes he used are part of the book of Deuteronomy (respectively Deut 4:4, 6:16 and 6:13).

This realization is still a source of inspiration for both my daughter and myself. Our Master and exemplar, “the most scientific man," found in the Bible the answers for the most challenging situations. As he put the Father first and foremost, he left temptations behind, and angels came to serve him. He was hungry, and his needs were met by angels. He didn’t have to struggle to hear God’s voice to guide him. He used the Bible! The Bible inspired him from the beginning of his earthly career to the very last words he pronounced on the cross, when he said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). These last words of his, on top of the cross, came from the book of Psalms (Ps 31:5).

Jesus, even in the most crucial moment of his days here, was teaching us how to forget self in laboring for mankind. It wasn’t about him, his hungering, his sorrows and pains. It was always all about forgetting self, putting the Father first, giving himself to the Father. It was proved to him (and through him to us) that he could trust the Bible even to make his final statement and put himself in his Father’s hands before resurrection.  

So, what can we do to forget self in laboring for mankind? We can follow Jesus’ example and use the same source of wisdom, inspiration and strengthen that he used. We can always trust the Bible as our guide to overcome temptations, to forget self and put God first, to do nothing on our own, to speak nothing on our own, and let the Father, who sent us, command us what to say, what to do. As Jesus did, we all can be inspired and guided by the Bible and forget self in laboring for mankind, to “find access to the heart of humanity”, as Mrs. Eddy says in Miscellaneous Writings (Mis. 155:9-10).