Where lives the one who is not confronted, in some form or other, with the problem of lack of supply? Ever since in the allegory Adam was sent forth from the garden of Eden "to till the ground from whence he was taken," the efforts of his progeny have centered largely around the solution of this problem. Yet, despite all the energy it has spent in getting, mankind believes it has never succeeded in getting enough! Some have little or no money, others little or no work; some lack food and clothing, others houses and lands; many are without health, without recreation, without right environment and companionship.

In this age, however, Christian Science is showing mortals the needlessness of such conditions, and is teaching them the real solution of the problem by revealing God, Spirit, as the boundless source of all supply, which is available here and now to all alike. It is disclosing the insubstantial nature of matter and the futility of looking to it for satisfaction. Can shadow satisfy the demand for substance? Since matter is always limited, always finite, how can it fill the countless needs of humanity? An unlimited supply cannot proceed from a limited source.

The real nature of our supply and the place where it is to be found, together with the price to be paid for its possession, are clearly set forth by Mrs. Eddy in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307). There she writes: "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." Now these spiritual ideas are not shadowy and far off, but tangible and close at hand. They are as real and near and available as the fact that two and two are four; and there is an idea to meet each and every need that can possibly arise, for we cannot conceive of a demand without conceiving of something to meet that demand Our "daily supplies" are the result, in a tangible form, of the activity of these spiritual ideas.

The great human need is to learn how to utilize God's spiritual ideas. God, not man, has created them. Man cannot originate a single idea; but he does have the ability to make use of the ideas which God has already created. To do this requires effort and application. But is not this true of everything worth while? The earth is fertile and productive; but if one failed to prepare the soil and sow the seed, he would look in vain for the harvest. Likewise, he who would become a mathematician must apply himself to the study of mathematics, in order to learn what the laws of this science are, and the rules governing their application to the working out of mathematical problems. Similarly, he who would utilize God's spiritual ideas, and thus solve his problem of lack, must apply himself to the study of the Science which reveals these ideas and the rules governing their application to all human problems.

The Bible contains many ideas which are our daily bread. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy is the "key" which unlocks this storehouse, and makes its treasures available by giving a knowledge of divine Principle and its rules. By careful daily study of these two books we learn the nature of God's ideas which supply our needs; and we also learn how to make use of them. It is by practicing the rules of divine Principle that we gain in both the letter and the spirit of Truth. We must apply in our daily living what we have learned, or it will avail us little. Merely to be aware of the existence of these ideas will not solve our problem of lack, any more than to know the multiplication table without applying it would solve our problems in multiplication. Just as we work out a problem in multiplication by applying our knowledge of the multiplication table to its solution step by step in a logical, orderly way until we find the answer, even so do we work out our problem of lack, arriving at the answer through the manifestation of God's spiritual ideas.

If we are honest, the first step in overcoming any seeming lack will be to place the blame where it should be placed—in our own consciousness. We should cease blaming some person or thing or outward circumstance, and in humility recognize that our poverty is but the externalization of our own wrong and limited thinking. Having got to the root of the discord, we shall begin to pull it up by letting go of our petty, cramped, doubting, fearful thoughts, along with our thoughts of pride and greed and ambition; and we shall replace these with thoughts of abundance, boundlessness, humility, unselfishness, faith in God's goodness, and confidence in His ability to supply everything needful. We shall cease to trust in our own sufficiency and wisdom, and shall place our trust in God. We shall stop outlining the way in which our daily bread must come, and shall let God provide it in His own way. To outline the manner in which our needs are to be met, and to believe that good can come to us only in a way which we ourselves have planned, are limited, poverty-stricken thoughts.

Rightly declaring the truth, we shall begin to distinguish between our wants and our needs. "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494); but this promise does not say anything about our wants. To make our decisions on the basis of whether the thing we need is right and necessary, and in accord with our highest understanding of Principle, is to eliminate fear, which is a factor in all discord; and we shall go ahead in confidence, spending what is necessary to-day, knowing that our supply will be renewed to-morrow because we have allied ourselves with God, good—and "if God be for us, who can be against us?" To seek the right thing and to keep our motives right is to be on the side of omnipotence.

We need continually to search our motives. Are we desirous of more material wealth in order to satisfy our pride and love of power, and because it will bring us more pleasure and ease in matter? Are we seeking the Christ for the loaves and the fishes? or are we seeking Truth for its own sake, in order to demonstrate more of good and to help establish God's kingdom on earth? The real Christian Scientist endeavors to rise above lack because he knows it is a wrong condition; and he also realizes that his light cannot shine out very far if it be dimmed by the belief of poverty.

On page 15 of Science and Health we read that the Father "rewards according to motives." Then, in proportion as we keep our motives pure, will our endeavors to solve the problem of lack be blessed and crowned with success. It is the right motive that frees our thought and enables us to get a clearer view of God as the source of our "daily supplies;" and this higher concept of Him will be manifested outwardly in greater prosperity and harmony.

For our inspiration and guidance we have many examples throughout the Bible of God supplying the needs of men, when to material sense there was pitiful lack. To the physical senses the widow's pot of oil was inadequate to save her sons from bondage and supply their necessary needs; to these same senses the one with the palsy seemed hopelessly bound; the evidence of material sense was but a mockery to the thousands faint with hunger in the wilderness. Yet when the widow was obedient to the voice of God, where there had seemed to be destitution she found an abundance to meet her own needs and those of her sons. When the palsied man and his bearers sought Christ Jesus, where there had been inaction and discord there were found instead activity, health, and wholeness. Because Jesus understood the deceptive nature of material sense, with its false testimony, and knew that God, Spirit, is the source of all supply, he was able to prove, even in the wilderness where lack seemed to be, that not only was there enough for everyone, but, after all were filled, there remained much left over.

In the light of these instances, should we entertain doubt concerning our supply? Should we still wonder where it is to be found, and whether there will be enough? Do not these examples teach us that supply is always at hand, wherever we may be, and despite all that material sense may be falsely proclaiming about it? Truly, all we need do is to "stand still" and know; for it is spiritual understanding which opens our eyes, blinded by material seeking, to behold what God has already bestowed upon man. Then, let us listen to the voice of wisdom crying, "With all thy getting get understanding."