Article July 13, 1935 Issue

True Substance

GEORGE J. SCHANTZ

Men are accustomed to count their material possessions—to take frequent inventory of their wealth, as represented by money, merchandise, stocks, bonds, or real estate. There can be no doubt that a reasonable vigilance must be kept over such commodities as the financial world deals in. To neglect this vigilance would result discordantly, and probably disastrously. But is there not some danger of carrying the counting of money and material possessions too far? Is it not true that men often become so obsessed with the accumulation of worldly wealth that the counting of it becomes decidedly miserly? Do they not thus make it their god, worship it, and become slaves to it?

Whatever is done, let it be done in accordance with divine Principle, and with the realization that all motives and actions can be brought under the control of divine Mind, whether in the operation of a business enterprise, the ruling of a nation, or the digging of a ditch. The statement by Mary Baker Eddy in her book "Miscellaneous Writings" is applicable to this subject (p. 354): "A little more grace, a motive made pure, a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the movement of body and soul in accord with God." As we gain the spiritual import of this statement, we may be assured that a clearer realization of substance, business, and opportunity will be won, obstructions will be removed, and much progress will be manifested. Mrs. Eddy attributed to divine Principle the marvels wrought for her, and she expected Christian Scientists to do likewise.

The mesmerism of material wealth has misled mortals for ages. The human mind seems slow to learn that the law of compensation is an ever-operative law. Mankind goes on chasing the rainbow of illusive promises, forgetting a disappointment in its eagerness to grasp at another chance to get something and give little or nothing in return. The employee who shirks his task, the employer who underpays his workers, the merchant who withholds quality or quantity, and the buyer who selfishly drives an unjust bargain—these are a few of the countless examples of trying to get something for nothing, and should be listed under the heading of undesirable inventory.

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