Article October 23, 1920 Issue

Demand and Supply

FANNIE BAKER BONNER

A real remedy for the present condition in the world called "lack of supply" would be welcomed by every humane individual. The daily press names it variously as "lack of coal," "lack of houses and apartments," "lack of money," and in many European countries it is "lack of food" and of everything else generally.

David sang, in the thirty-fourth psalm, "They that seek the Lord shall not want [lack] any good thing." This shows us where our supply is, but how are we to obtain it? Instances are numerous in the Old Testament showing that God supplied the needs of His people. The Israelites were fed with daily supplies of manna when in the wilderness; God commanded the ravens and they fed Elijah. The feeding of the five thousand and the seven thousand by Jesus as recorded in the gospels shows that he knew the source of supply and also how to unlock the storehouse. He also showed that the source is spiritual although manifested in a practical way, a way the common people could understand.

Scholastic theology has always taught and is still trying to teach mankind to beg and plead with God to supply human necessities. Many of us have found that method lacking in results. But David in the verse quoted does not advise us to beg, but to "seek" the Lord. The word translated as seek is found to come from a Hebrew root meaning "to tread or frequent; usually to follow." Mary Baker Eddy named her textbook of Christian Science "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and this key will unlock the meaning of this verse. In this textbook Mrs. Eddy tells us many times that human methods are a reversal of the divine. The old, human way was to beg God, expecting God to do all the supplying; man demanded, God supplied. David knew better than this. Consulting our textbook we find our remedy and also a reversal of human methods. On page 183 we find this: "Divine Mind rightly demands man's entire obedience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength." We see at once that it is divine Mind, or God, that makes the demand, and obedience to this demand will bring the supply. Beginning on page 261 we read, "Good demands of man every hour, in which to work out the problem of being."

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