Article November 8, 1924 Issue

"A continual allowance"

FRANCES M. GORRELL

There are many people in the world to-day who are making their existence miserable by worrying about tomorrow and its demands. The children of Israel learned the lesson of seeking each day's supply through the gathering of the manna which was provided them day by day. No useless hoarding of it, no mad rushing for it, was allowed,—only the diligent, persistent work of gathering a sufficient quantity to meet the need for the day. There was the call for daily work, for the bending of energies to provide for the daily needs; and so long as they needed this proof of God's care and provision, and willingly accepted the conditions, just so long were they sustained.

The student of Christian Science, through his understanding of the ever present goodness and love of God, his Father-Mother, is gratefully gathering and using the ideas of good that appear to him each day, knowing that these expressions of divine Love are continual, unfailing, and abundant. In the last verse of the last chapter of II Kings we read, "His allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life." Are Christian Scientists who have been lifted out of the prison house of fear and sin and discouragement even as Jehoiachin, of whom these words were written, was lifted out of the material prison by the Babylonian king, realizing their freedom from material bondage, human limitation, and physical pain enough to wait patiently each day for their "daily rate"? Is it possible that, in the face of all that has been accomplished for us in the past, we are still looking to-day for tomorrow's rate? Are we wondering if the courage we shall need for to-morrow's task will be sufficient? Are we questioning the abundance of patience that to-morrow's test will require? Are we vaguely hoping that sufficient strength will somehow be manifest to perform to-morrow's duties? Are we anxiously inquiring if there will be money enough to settle to-morrow's obligations?

Listen again to the sweet words of promise, "A daily rate for every day, all the days of his life"! Then let us lay aside every doubt and fear and anxious thought, and gratefully and humbly gather the manna of to-day. It means effort and courage and faith to do this; it means persistence and patience and prayer. But there is no uncertainty, no delay, no lack in the result; for there is manna enough for all,—there is an abundant supply of God's ideas to meet all demands. Our Leader tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment."

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