Article August 8, 1931 Issue

Real Wealth

CUSHING SMITH

Money, in the economic sense, is usually referred to as a medium of exchange. Christian Science gives us the true medium of exchange in the development of spiritual understanding; for in its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 269), Mrs. Eddy explains that "metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul." He who possesses the priceless gift of spiritual understanding has within his grasp more real wealth than is in all the savings banks of the world. Nor is this merely a possession in the land of promise, for true metaphysics is the most practical means of establishing the true concept of wealth, just as it is the surest method of meeting the human need of health. The most truly wealthy man the world has ever known was Christ Jesus.

What are "the ideas of Soul" which Christian metaphysics gives in exchange for "the objects of sense"? These ideas are as tangible to spiritual consciousness as their human misinterpretations are to material sense. They represent true identities, conveying satisfaction to the spiritually-minded as music conveys pleasure to the musically-minded. The identity or individuality of every spiritual idea is maintained by the Mind which includes infinite individuality. Anybody who is able to comprehend the distinction made by this Science between the spiritual Christ and the human Jesus need have no fear of his continuing ability to replace "the objects of sense with the ideas of Soul." Similarly, if one can see in a flower something more than a material blossom produced by apparently horticultural means, he is on the road to higher and higher interpretations, for "the floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity" (Science and Health, p. 240).

Jesus said, "The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth." He used parables and symbols to illustrate spiritual truths. Even so does the student of Christian Science learn that he must distinguish between the hieroglyphs or symbols of God and the fallacious presentments of material sense. The chapter in the Christian Science textbook called the "Glossary" is a storehouse of metaphysical truths, containing words, the meaning of which is resolved into spiritual ideas to replace the material concepts usually accepted by human thought. Nowhere is pure metaphysics more gloriously evident than in this chapter, and the medium of exchange which it supplies constitutes true wealth. When one is able to bring all of its "tithes into the storehouse," he will find the blessing promised in the Bible, "a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Real Wealth

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access