Many are seeking to know what are good investments. A Christian Scientist, looking back over past experiences, found the best investment she had ever made was the five dollars she had put into "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. The value of the Bible, with Science and Health as a "key," has increased a thousandfold. The dividend that has accrued through twenty years' study of these two inspired books never can be fully measured or put into words. The joy, the health, the freedom, the broader outlook that have permeated every channel of daily living and contact with one's fellow men cannot be understood by anyone not having made the same investment.

Another true investment has been the money and time she has put into the authorized Christian Science periodical literature. It has not only paid her back a hundredfold, but has also enabled her to give a great deal to others; and one cannot possibly estimate how far-reaching this work may have been.

The dividend from these investments has led her to make still another splendid investment, namely, membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church. The uplifting and strengthening influence of feeling that she was a part of The Mother Church, helping to support its wonderful far-reaching activities both mentally and financially, cannot be described in mere words. The affiliation with the local church, taking part in its various activities step by step, the broadening understanding gained year after year, have brought many blessings and much joy. Learning to take part in the Wednesday midweek service, wishing to give as well as to receive, and the efforts put forth to this end not only have strengthened her, but have in many ways brought unexpected returns. All this has helped her to understand more clearly that giving is necessary to receiving, and that this is God's unfailing law.

A Christian Science church is an investment for any locality, and the whole surrounding community as well. It stands for the highest thought of power and law, social and moral purity, better homes, and the purest religion known in the world to-day. Let us not just donate to its support, but invest there our thought, energy, time, love, and prayers, for all these are necessary to its growth and success. It is a paying investment for anyone individually, for the community, and for the cause of Christianity throughout the world.

We cannot be in Christian Science long before our thought of supply, substance, and riches is changed—broadened and enriched. To know that supply takes form in spiritual ideas reflected from the divine Mind is to know there is an abundance for all. If lack seems to be manifested, it can be relieved through our greater receptivity to spiritual ideas. We have to learn to receive, to open our thought to God's unfailing abundance. It is ours to reflect and to express, rather than to possess. God alone possesses all good; man possesses good only through reflection.

A Christian Science student said she was in the habit of giving a "tenth" before she was interested in this Science. Through its study, with the clearer understanding she gained of supply, she came to realize she was paying only her just debt to God in giving a tenth of what already belonged to God. She then began on a new basis of giving her thank offerings above the "tenth." Her supply was not diminished, but gradually became more abundant.

In Exodus, the twenty-fifth chapter, when He was telling Moses what to accept of the Israelites for the building of their tabernacle, the Lord said, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering." Our supply increases as we learn to discern more of that which God has already prepared for His own, and give willingly. We gradually cease to make strenuous efforts to get and keep that which passes away, which moth and rust corrupt, and learn to value more that which endures. God's promise reads, "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance."

Our Manual, under "Church Periodicals" says (Art. VIII, Sect. 14), "It shall be the privilege and duty of every member, who can afford it, to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this Church." The phrase "privilege and duty" sometimes does not seem to have equal consideration with "who can afford it." Perhaps if it were studied more, we should not come to decide too quickly that we could not afford it. Can we afford not to take the literature of our own church organization? Can we afford not to be familiar with "the organs of this Church" to which we belong? Can we afford not to have the joy and encouragement that come from faithfully studying the periodicals provided by our Leader, which will support our growing understanding and guide our efforts aright?

Those who seek good earnestly and with the whole heart shall find the good, the harmony, the supply, the joy, and the peace which are so freely given, yet which are enjoyed only by the earnest seeker. We learn that we cannot be half-hearted in Christian Science, any more than in anything else, and still expect to succeed. Mrs. Eddy asks (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 356): "When will mankind awake to know their present ownership of all good...? When will the world waken to the privilege of knowing God, the liberty and glory of His presence." Love and obedience faithfully exemplified in daily life admit us to God's presence and affluence. Divine Love, by its very infinitude of goodness, is continually calling us to a higher unfoldment and demonstration, to a higher, more spiritual sense of love and supply, to God's truth and blessings as the only true income, the one which never fails. When we learn to invest in love, purity, truth, unselfishness, then we begin to have an established income that will grow as we grow in understanding and obedience. We must always make our investment before we can receive, and we receive in proportion to our investment. Whether it be large or small rests with us individually.