Article March 21, 1936 Issue

Entertaining Angels

BLANCHE A. HATHAWAY

From time immemorial humanity has felt the need of solving its financial problems. Error would suggest fear, and have us believe that our needs will not be provided for. The human mind either fears or worships money. It fears that the necessities of human existence, such as food, shelter, clothing, cannot be obtained, or else it worships money for the ease and luxuries it provides. Paul designates "the love of money" as "the root of all evil," and Jesus warned us that we could not serve God and mammon. That is, we cannot look to opposite sources for our supply and expect our needs to be met.

In an article entitled "Angels" on page 307 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy says, "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." These angels, ideas from divine Mind, are what we essentially need. Suppose one's sense of supply manifests itself in terms of money with which the daily needs may be supplied; even then, primarily, the need is for spirituality. For example, one may have tucked away in his thinking some dishonest thought; he may not be expressing kindness, patience, brotherly love; or he may be failing to see his fellow workers from the standpoint of Principle. In other words, he is believing in the power of error to harm either himself or his fellow men. These mental attitudes prevent rightful progress, and we need to correct all wrong thoughts if we would have the true spiritual ones manifest themselves, and in turn supply our daily needs. It may even be a jealous or a competitive feeling that one is harboring. All such, being "little foxes, that spoil the vines," rob them of fruitage. It is therefore imperative that we awake to our real need, which is to reflect more Godlike qualities in our thinking, such as honesty, gratitude, joy, integrity of purpose, as well as a sincere desire to understand and demonstrate divine Love for ourselves and for others, and to see that supply is here and now expressed for all.

In order to change a material sense of lack to a spiritual sense of abundance, our first step is humbly and reverently to seek for the divine ideas which God is imparting, and in a thoughtful and expectant attitude of mind turn to the Bible and our Lesson-Sermons, provided in the Christian Science Quarterly. Further study of the other writings of our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, may be profitably made, and also of the Christian Science periodicals. As the truths of the statements found therein unfold and take root in our thinking, we begin to reflect the divine ideas that come to us as a result of turning to God. These divine ideas come from infinite Mind, which is never depleted, and is always available. This source of divine ideas is the best place to invest our efforts, and it is never in a state of bankruptcy. Jesus proved this when he provided for the human needs of those around him by his spiritual understanding of what constitutes real substance, showing plainly in deeds and in words that Spirit, and not unsubstantial matter, is the source of supply.

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