According to the teaching of Christian Science, all real activity is the manifestation of divine Mind. Man, the idea of Mind, is unceasingly employed in reflecting God. Christian Science gives the right understanding of God and man, and also of employment, which must be understood spiritually. All the difficulties pertaining to this subject of employment arise from the fact that mortals have not the true spiritual understanding of God. Jesus, who understood and practiced spirituality in human experience, had the true concept of business. At the age of twelve he said, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

Ignorant of the truth taught in the Scriptures, mortals are at mercy of errors which, although they have never been real, result in much unhappiness. Among the most common of these mistaken beliefs are the question of age and the fear that there is not enough work for all, that one is not qualified, that it is necessary to go to another town, and that if one has employment he may lose it.

Christian Science corrects all these mistaken beliefs by revealing the fact that existence is spiritual, and by showing the necessity of declaring the truth about existence instead of mentally holding to mistakes. When one turns to its teachings with the intention of working out a problem scientifically, he has taken the first step towards getting the correct solution. Then he finds that there is no need to go to another place, but that his need is for a better state of consciousness. He will need to leave behind him such thoughts as ingratitude and fear, and gain the understanding of God and His ideas. As the light of Truth begins to dawn, he finds that it is not primarily something of a material nature which he needs, but more spirituality. If thought has been burdened with such elements as resentment at having a problem to meet, fear of not giving satisfaction, or ingratitude for what has been offered, his work is to displace these wrong suggestions with true ideas.

Paul writes, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." If one faced with the problem of unemployment is a student of Christian Science, he knows that it is not sufficient for him merely to declare that the situation is unreal, but that he must make every effort to put out the false belief and take every opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of spiritual truth.

A young man who was feeling much discouraged about his business prospects, even fearing dismissal, attended a testimony meeting at a Christian Science church. During the time allotted to the giving of testimonies, a speaker expressed gratitude for the way Christian Science had helped her in business. She said that at one time she was working for a man who seemed to be very exacting. Good work did not seem to satisfy him. He always demanded still better work. At first a battle with resentment and injustice had to be fought, but she quickly saw that neither of these was scientific and therefore they both must be cast out. The result was that she did her work more carefully, more accurately and this made the task a pleasure. By degrees she realized that her understanding of God was correcting her mental state and her work. She saw that real business is God's, and that God knows only perfection. This idea continued to unfold, and resulted in much progress. The following week the young man's mother gave a testimony. She stated that her son had attended the meeting the previous Wednesday, and had heard a testimony which had helped him to replace a sense of depression with the right idea of happiness, and that this correction had resulted in a long-hoped-for promotion.

When employment is understood spiritually, it will be seen that the limited belief that there is not room for all obtains only in material sense. One who has glimsped the truth about occupation, and is endeavoring to demonstrate this truth, is not only dispelling error for himself but is also helping others. God is unchangeable and the source of all good. His ideas, therefore, are not subject to chance or change. Because one who seems to be unemployed is suffering merely from false belief and its consequences, a change in circumstances is not primarily what is needed to effect a cure. An alert Christian Scientist is not satisfied to accept unemployment insurance compensation, and make no effort to demonstrate more fully the truth he understands. He may be grateful, however, for temporary assistance while striving for more understanding, which brings the right solution. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 15), "God requires our whole heart, and He supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members." Jesus said, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." Obedience to Truth alone brings unfoldment.

A young girl seeking the true understanding of employment saw the necessity for being useful in the home, something which had not occurred to her before. Her willingness to obey this leading to Truth had the natural effect of breaking the dream of unemployment, and a post was obtained.

The world is much in need of Truth; of willingness to accept the true ideas which dispel depression and all the other errors that would tend to shut out right ideas. There is no room for depression anywhere. One who has the correct understanding of Christian Science and uses it wastes no time dreaming in material sense, but watches his every thought, knowing that the substance of all good is in Mind. Thus he accepts the responsibility of "rightly dividing the word of truth." He will not relax his efforts, even when satisfactorily employed, but will work on in order to gain a greater understanding of true employment and ever new unfoldment. As a member of The Mother Church he will be ready for each duty in his branch church or society. His whole concern will be that God's kingdom come and His will be done on earth as in heaven.