Article April 30, 1921 Issue

Intelligent Economy

BERNICE W. CARTER

MANKIND have agreed that there is only one source of wisdom, and they have accepted, at least in theory, the apostle James' advice, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Economy, on the contrary, has been looked upon as the result, more or less, of human planning, whether the careful thrift of the housewife is referred to or the systematic arrangement of an organization. And yet so closely connected in thought are true economy and true wisdom that the conclusion is easily reached that the one is simply a result of the other. Without wisdom it is impossible to practice true economy, for that which calls itself economy in human affairs may be merely human limitation and an expression of fear, which in personal matters easily degenerates into parsimony or penuriousness.

The first step, then, in the practice of economy is to follow the advice of the apostle and pray God for wisdom. Now Christian Scientists are blessed beyond measure in having formed the habit of daily study of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," for such study is in itself a most important step in the acquiring of wisdom and is therefore the beginning of the practice of true economy. Every one who has had any measure of experience in the affairs of the world knows that ignorance is tremendously expensive. How common is the expression, "If I had only known!" How much time, energy, money, or what not one might have saved if he had only known beforehand the truth about some circumstance or condition. Now to know the truth about anything in Christian Science is to realize that the wisdom of divine Mind, the creator of the universe, is forever expressed and reflected by man. To rely fully on this wisdom and trust it to make its presence manifest results in an uncovering of all that is unwise as well as in revealing the wise and right thing to do under any circumstances. It gives the true forewarning that makes one forearmed.

In "Miscellaneous Writings," on page 117, Mrs. Eddy says: "God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient. The disobedient make their moves before God makes His, or make them too late to follow Him. Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance." The chief difference between the teachings of Christian Science and that of other denominations is that in Christian Science God is found to be not a magnified human being with a throne somewhere beyond the blue that vaults the sky, but is Mind, incorporeal and everywhere present as intelligence. To be sure, then, that intelligence directs one's way one must utilize reasoning power, in accord with all that he understands about God, about what is good. The one who is endeavoring to practice economy intelligently will begin his reasoning with a realization of the truth about substance, for after all, economy is, to the human sense, the conversation of substance. But here again the student of Christian Science finds himself deep in the study of what God is. Sooner or later, according to his sincerity, he reaches the conclusion that there is no economy except that which deals with thoughts. "The verity of Mind," Mrs. Eddy says on page 123 of Science and Health, "shows conclusively how it is that matter seems to be, but is not. Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas."

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