It is, of course, trite, but generally true, to say that one's needs are one thing and one's wants another thing. It is also generally true that the needs of one individual would perhaps be in excess of the needs of another, since, in any case, needs are not limited to food, clothing, and shelter, but include whatever is necessary to enable one properly to fulfill the duties of his particular station in the human scheme of things.

Considered in the light of his human welfare, the needs of an individual are generally accounted those things which are essential to sustain him; while, considered in relation to his spiritual welfare, one's needs consist of those qualities which not only are necessary to his spiritual growth, but at the same time harmonize his human experience. Hence the force of Jesus' injunction, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"—words which seem clearly to imply that "these things" could not interfere with, but would follow, one's spiritual development. So it is quite evident that while one's needs include nothing that would hinder the of spirituality in his thinking, they embrace whatever is essential to his human experience. This is also clearly implied in Jesus' further statement: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

One thing which seems to make the question of supply difficult of solution is the universal belief that supply consists for the greater part of material things which can be procured, in most instances, only in exchange for money; and that if the individual has little or no money he has little or no supply; in other words, that money governs and apportions supply. There is also associated with this problem the generally accepted belief that one is dependent for his supply upon some other individual. So when, for instance, an employee is informed by his employer that his services can no longer be utilized, the employee at once feels and fears that his supply has been cut off, through circumstances or conditions over which he has no control.

So long as the individual clings to the belief that he is helpless in such a situation, so long will he be handicapped in discerning the solution to his problem. He needs to gain the view that supply, in its spiritual and true sense, can be acquired or realized only through spiritual thinking. He needs also to awaken to the truth that he is not helpless in any situation, because God has given him the ability to conform his thinking to divine Principle. On this point our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, gives us the following reassuring words (Pulpit and Press, p. 3): "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love."

The employee seemingly cut off from his source of supply, and desiring to solve his problem through right thinking, may want to know what he shall think, or of what his thinking must consist. Our Leader answers these questions briefly but fully in the familiar words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." So it will be seen that supply is made manifest to the individual through his admitting into his consciousness the spiritual ideas of divine Mind, which God is perpetually imparting, and which "in turn" are made manifest to him as his daily supplies.

The earnest inquirer may ask how he is to identify or know spiritual ideas. Here it may be helpful to refer again to Jesus' injuction, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." Good is the term for God in many languages; so, to seek the kingdom of God is diligently to endeavor to make good thoughts supreme in our thinking. And as this is done the ability to discern between good thoughts and those which are not good will gradually increase, until good thoughts predominate in our consciousness and finally rule out all others. Thus will one become master of his thinking and bring into his experience rightful employment, a happy, harmonious environment, and plentiful supply. Holding thought to conscious communion with God determines the harmony of one's outward experience.

Each individual has a fairly well-defined sense of what the word "good" means. He knows it could not mean anything evil or bad, and so in endeavoring to "discern between good and bad," for which discernment Solomon prayed, he can begin by testing, by his present sense of good, the various thought which present themselves for admission to his consciousness, and reject those which do not meet the test, or those about which he entertains any doubt. As he persists in doing this, strengthened and enlightened by faithful study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, he will gradually attain to that status so well described by St. Paul, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." We may be sure, then, that God has provided in abundance, everywhere and instantly available through scientifically right thinking, whatever is essential to the well-being of His children.

What an interesting and inspiring thing it becomes to note the growth, however gradual, one is making in his ability to measure thought by his ever-increasing understanding of good! For in this endeavor he is planting his feet "in the true path,—the path," as Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 454), "which leads to the house built without hands 'eternal in the heavens.'"