Article March 31, 1928 Issue

Divine Economy

GORDON M. PELTZ

The subject of economy, as it is popularly considered and as it is taught by the schools under the name of economics, is so fundamentally based upon the assumption of limitation in all things that a student of Christian Science, upon learning that there is no limitation in any real direction, must necessarily revise his views on the subject. At first sight it would seem that if all good is available in unlimited quantity, there is no reason for restricting or regulating its consumption. This would be mortal mind's conclusion; and if acted upon, it would quickly lead into asking amiss. The basic error of such asking would lie in the fact that it sought to work partly with the divine Mind and partly with human beliefs. It would like to have supply governed by the law of God, while leaving the control of consumption to the dictates of human desire. This divided allegiance necessarily involves defeat from the outset.

In order to understand and demonstrate God's law of infinite supply, it is necessary to translate supply into the realm of Spirit, letting God's law govern the acceptance, appreciation, and use of the good He provides, as well as seeking to receive in accordance with His bountiful love. When we are seeking to obtain something, it is pleasing and encouraging to be told that God's supply is unlimted, and that it is available to all. At first glance this may seem very simple and easy of acceptance. It appears to convey the thought that all we have to do is to sit back and let God's goodness pour in upon us, without any effort or onligation on our part. But to demonstrate it in practical human affairs, we must accept the whole law and all that it implies. Upon careful examination of this law we find that it requires the acceptance of many things at which the erring human senses rebel, for it calls for a high degree of self-immolation.

The word "infinite" means without limits; therefore, if God's supply is infinite, there are no limits to it whatever, and there can be no supply apart from God's supply; or, as Mrs. Eddy puts it in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 336), "Allness is the measure of the infinite, and nothing less can express God." This leads to the conclusion that "no good is, but the good God bestows," as she states on page 275 of the textbook. To say that God's supply is infinite must mean, then, that it includes all good: all the good we have ever received in the past; all the good we now have; all the good we hope to receive in the future. How necessary it is to accept this concept of infinite supply, which involves the letting go of the cherished belief that we have accomplished something by our own unaided efforts, the relinquishment of all pride of possession—in fact, realization that "I can of mine own self do nothing"! To stop short of this and hold a belief in personal accomplishment is to believe in some goodness apart from God. Such a supposition would limit Him and deny the very law of infinite supply which we seek to demonstrate.

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