Editorial June 16, 1917 Issue

Sure Sustenance

Annie M. Knott

The questions asked in Jesus' day, "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" are being much repeated at the present time; but it is doubtful whether there is any more reason for anxiety in this direction today than there had been for the last hundred years. Christ Jesus did not promise the world of his time any better material conditions in order to allay their fears, but he did say that if they made the kingdom of God and His righteousness their first consideration, all their human needs would be supplied; and unnumbered thousands who have learned through Christian Science to apply his teachings, have proved this statement true.

Less than fifty years ago great fear was expressed that in the course of a few years all the known material sources of light would be exhausted,—the whale which supplied oil, and other creatures as well,—and then the discovery that oil could be taken from "the flinty rock" served in some measure to allay the fears for this one thing. Soon, however, there were plenty of alarmists to say that the supply of this oil was very limited and would soon be exhausted, also the coal which provided both light and heat; but even in this respect many surprises have come to mankind, until now it is not thought very wise or far sighted to predict the exhaustion of anything which we need. The student of Christian Science knows, however, that material things at best are limited, and that it is worse than uncertain to anchor our faith to them; but he at the same time knows that as we let go of our belief in materiality and reliance upon it, with the desire and purpose to acquaint ourselves with God and His rich provision for the needs of all His children, our daily bread comes in no uncertain way, though it must come through the channel of uplifted faith and understanding.

The difficulty with mortals is that they want to be supplied in their own way,—not in God's way, which is infinitely wise and good. The children of Israel while in Egyptian bondage clamored loudly for freedom, and thought they desired it more than aught else; but when they were lifted above this condition, they were unwilling to endure the discipline of the wilderness. The manna which came as type and symbol of the living bread was despised, and when the quails came to the camp, the people ate until the surfeited sense was unable to rise above that which was dragging it down, and many perished.

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