Article September 14, 1946 Issue

Divine Love and the Human Need

MABELLE BURGESS WILSON

One of the most widely quoted statements from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, is this (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." This quotation, one of three designated by Mrs. Eddy as suitable for inscription on the walls of Churches of Christ, Scientist, thus has become especially familiar to church members and attendants.

Many times one hears this statement repeated too lightly, implying that merely by repetition of the words the material need for food, clothing, or the like will be met. Divine Love, understood, does indeed bring to mankind that which meets the human need in full measure. But we need first of all to learn that God's law of supply, made available to mankind through Christian Science, works primarily to regenerate and transform the fleshly mind, of which the physical body is the outward manifestation. Then there will humanly appear whatever is needed for mankind's well-being.

That there is a marked distinction between the human need and the human want or desire is apparent to any thinking individual. These two claims, the one legitimate and the other the offspring of the carnal mind, should be carefully differentiated when they present themselves at the door of our thought for acceptance. By its very nature, the material mentality is opposed to the divine Mind, and so it cannot tell us truly what our real needs are, but would with its subtle sophistries lead us into ways of selfishness, even to infringement on the rights of others.

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