Article July 27, 1935 Issue

Manifestation versus Material Accumulation

MILDRED L. LE BLOND

Does not the problem of the economic world arise, in part, from the human desire to accumulate material things? And would not the understanding of life as the manifestation of God be the solution? It may be said that the profound statement, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all," by Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health (p. 468), holds the key to the situation. A Christian Scientist can do nothing better than ponder the meaning of this statement and determine how to accept "infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation" as the basis of his living and giving. This understanding will bless not only his own life but that of others.

What happens when men base their sense of existence on belief in separation from God, Mind? Fearing and feeling lack, they proceed to acquire what they think they need in order to enjoy life. They dig in a ditch, so to speak, to earn enough money to buy enough food to get enough strength to dig in a ditch. So round and round they go in this erroneous sense of life, whether they be termed affluent or the reverse. Living in this false sense of existence they fill their barns with something besides corn and oil; on close inspection they find that fear, envy, dishonesty, greed, jealousy, and rivalry have been added, for these erroneous qualities of thought are always associated with the mere accumulation of things. The result is neither satisfaction nor lasting security.

What is the way out of this misconception of life? It is to understand that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation," and to make this truth workable in one's present experience. What happens when one recognizes that his existence is at one with God, Mind? Knowing that he is at one with Mind, he is conscious of the infinite perfection and abundance of Mind. Our Leader writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 195, 196), "The 'I' will go to the Father when meekness, purity, and love, informed by divine Science, the Comforter, lead to the one God: then the ego is found not in matter but in Mind, for there is but one God, one Mind; and man will then claim no mind apart from God." From this standpoint he realizes that he possesses true riches because he manifests the riches of his Father, Mind, and this reflection of good precludes the belief that matter is substance. He reasons that because Mind and man are at one, man manifests Mind. God gives; man manifests God's giving. Effect is like cause. God is the Giver; man is the receiver. There is no Principle involved in mere material getting, for effect is like cause. Therefore, we must know the affuence of Mind and idea, for our birthright is reflection or manifestation. Knowing that our barn is already full of corn, we share with our fellow men, and thus add to the store of love, honesty, integrity, and humanity. These qualities and this attitude of thought are manifestations of God, good.

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