"Riches and honour"

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE is a matter of demonstration.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," says Paul. In proportion as we can demonstrate in human experience that God is true supply, our needs are met. Beyond that there is neither supply nor need. It is sometimes objected that students of Christian Science do not obey the Scriptural instruction, "Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor." Now all earnest students of Christian Science are trying daily to obey this command, not, as some one once said, by providing work for the auctioneer, but by detaching ourselves more and more from dependence on material posessions, so as to give the bread of heaven and the water of life to every thirsty one that asks for them. The mere parting with material possessions was not what Jesus implied, not was it ever taught by Christianity or Christian Science. It does not necessarily advance us spiritually from the claims of materialism at all; not has it any bearing on the divine supply for human needs in Christian Science, since what God bestows cannot be given away, lost, or vitiated. Man in reality can no more want than he can sin, suffer, or die, for there can be no imperfection in the idea of the one perfect Mind. Poverty, injustice, greed, or mismanagement of riches must cease as we demonstrate this great fact of Christian Science. On page 223 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "Sooner or later we shall learn that the fetters of man's finite capacity are forged by the illusion that he lives in body instead of in Soul, in matter instead of in Spirit."

Want, or superabundance, of material riches cannot affect man's spiritual growth. As we grasp the true status of man we must similarly fail to judge him by the inaccurate scale of "class" universally obtaining in mortal mind. On no other basis than this can man's equality be demonstrated since on no other grounds are men equal; but on a spiritual basis equality can and must be demonstrated, in the strictest accordance with that which is most elementary in Christian teaching. Nothing but the recognition of the true, spiritual birthright of man can constitute worth, position, and power. A man is great, therefore, only as he realizes that he is no greater than his neighbor; well-born only as he acknowledges the one Father-Mother, Love, as his parent; wise only as he reflects the one Mind; and rich and mighty only as he wields the "charmed rod" that breaks the chains of error that seemed to keep him from exercising his "dominion over all." Thus, as Mrs. Eddy says on page 490 of Science and Health, "The scientifically Christian explanations of the nature and origin of man destroy all material sense with immortal testimony. This immortal testimony ushers in the spiritual sense of being, which can be obtained in no other way." Man cannot make himself respected, powerful, or rich. Jesus did not say, "Ye shall become powerful," but, "Ye shall receive power." David sang, "Both riches and honour come of thee," and the four and twenty elders of the Revelation, worshiping before the throne, said, "Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."