Article January 27, 1923 Issue

God's Provision for Man

ARTHUR S. HOLLIS

It is recorded that when Jesus needed the tribute money, he instructed Peter to find "a piece of money" in a fish's mouth. It is true that the method employed was unusual; but this does not alter the fact that when this apparent material need was felt, Jesus was instrumental in meeting the demand. In so doing, he exposed forever the fallacy which would maintain that the consideration of financial problems belongs solely to the plane of material thought, and which would extol material indigence as a praiseworthy accompaniment of spirituality. Throughout her books, Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, constantly admonishes her readers to glorify Spirit and its creation, if they would exemplify the divine Principle of Science; and the teachings of Jesus emphasize the same necessity. Yet Jesus provided wine at a wedding feast, money for the tribute, and food for the multitudes.

In bringing out the demonstration of God's goodness to man, it is important that motives be purified. Let not any think that Christian Science provides, merely for the asking, inexhaustible material wealth, to be squandered lavishly and recklessly on so-called material pleasures; for such is not the case. At the outset, it must be understood that there can be no response from divine Love if the prime desire be the amassing of a fortune. Also, just as long as there rankles in thought the slightest sense of envy, jealousy, or bitterness toward another who may appear to possess a greater abundance than we, there will be little, if any, real progress. Rather, the impelling motive must be an earnest desire to know more of divine Truth. This is the only worthy incentive. It is in accordance with divine wisdom, therefore, to watch and pray that all envy, jealousy, and greed may be cast out. Self-will, likewise, must be replaced by humility; and pride by brotherly love. Jesus said, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." How foolish, then, to idolize the possession of so-called material wealth, since at any moment the material illusion of accumulated treasure may be annihilated by the dream of poverty, as a pin prick ruptures a toy balloon! On the other hand, when the superstructure of success and prosperity is erected upon the basis of spiritual understanding, it is truly "founded upon a rock." Such riches will withstand the vicissitudes of time, and bring blessings to others besides their possessor.

"Divine Science," writes Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 123), "rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas." These Scientific instructions must be followed implicitly, if the belief in material limitation is to be rightly met and destroyed. The fact that God, divine Mind, is the only power governing man, and that His government is perfect, must be affirmed and reaffirmed until this truth controls consciousness, destroying the belief that matter, in any form, can ever either molest or sustain man. Then will the haunting fear be conquered that matter has any power to help or to harm; while, simultaneously, the truth will be unfolded that spiritual man is always plentifully supplied, through the operation of the divine law of Love. The great reality of God as Father-Mother should be pondered unceasingly, because the realization of this truth lifts thought above any sense of hereditary lack. Man's heritage is an unfailing and perpetual abundance of spiritual treasures. He is perennially rich with God's spiritual blessings, regardless of any material appearances to the contrary; just as, however ill the mortal seeming, God's spiritual offspring is forever healthy and harmonious. This grand verity annuls the mortal edict of material penury; for if the real, spiritual man is veritably supplied with all good for every need, no belief or illusion of material lack can possibly afflict him.