A HUMBLE desire to be about the Father's business helps the one who is trying to discern the mental treasures which are at his disposal. Engrossed in the accumulation of material riches, the love of which is a source of anxiety, mankind often disregards its spiritual possessions. Willfully or ignorantly, it neglects "the things of the Spirit," which alone have true and lasting value, as Christian Science clearly shows.

Periods of trouble and insecurity seem continually to interfere with the infallible government of God. Personal interest, pride of power, unbridled ambition sow confusion in the business world, and financial and political crises loom, often accompanied by bankruptcies and unemployment. These various ills, indicative of the activity of a so-called power opposed to God, who is omnipotence, plunge the unguarded thought into anxiety and mental confusion, the blinding effects of which conceal the unlimited opportunities of spiritual man.

No matter what the urgent requirements of existence may be, one needs above all else right ideas. How can a right idea provide the hungry with their daily bread, and a home for those who need one? How can it give work to the unemployed? Christian Science teaches us that God's ideas are always at hand, always accessible. Correcting erroneous mortal concepts of toil, of fatigue, of periods of inactivity and depression, they provide all necessary things, and bring harmony to the affairs of him who has gained the right idea of work and business.

The demonstration of ever-present supply calls on the student of Christian Science for relinquishment of the material point of view in favor of the spiritual. To estimate one's wealth from a purely material basis would be erroneous and diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus, whose works, demonstrations based on his understanding of the truth of being, were of such great practical value to humanity. The mesmerism of mortal thinking had no hold on him, and he encouraged his followers to liberate themselves from the things which bound them. The attitude of the rich young man, who was made very sorrowful by the mere thought of giving up his material goods, to follow the Master, is an object lesson to those who wish to respond wholeheartedly to the call of Truth. "Self-love is more opaque than a solid body," states Mary Baker Eddy, the Disconverer and Founder of Christian Science, on page 242 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." The opacity of mortal mind, with its fears and desires, prevented the rich young man from seeing the spiritual opportunities lying before him. Encumbered by useless, false mental possessions, such as egotism or fear, he suffered the effects of disappointment and discouragement, and turned aside from his heritage of right thinking, which would have enabled him to follow, without regret and with joy, the way of Life—the way of true enrichment—indicated by the Master.

Many times in her works our Leader counsels us to examine and to analyze our thoughts. If we find there any of the possessions of mortal man, such as envy, pride, lack, dishonesty, let us not hesitate to deny them and abandon them, knowing that they have no life, no substance, no power. These errors have no place in spiritual man, who is the idea of God. Temptations to be irritable, to criticize unkindly, to condemn, make no appeal to one who in his thought and life steadfastly seeks to exemplify the an created by God, who is His perfect expression. No influence can prevent him from expressing divine qualities; he finds that dominion is his inalienable right.

The night of ignorance fades before the glorious light of spiritual understanding, before the exact knowledge of God and man which Christian Science reveals. This Science teaches us that God is the only employer of man; that man's work consists of reflecting the qualities of Mind. If we consider right ideas as unfailing income, accessible to all, it will not be difficult to work out profitable transactions, which would consist primarily of the exchange of error for truth, of ignorance for intelligence.

Offering to "millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth" (Science and Health, p. 570) the precious gift of our spiritual possessions, which have transformed our own lives, we shall make our contribution towards rousing the world to the possibility of expressing a better spirit in its affairs. The universe of ideas, created by God, is always active; and Christ Jesus utilized these divinely bestowed ideas. If we carefully consider his career, we cannot fail to see how he encouraged, inspired, healed those who came to him. We too should use our talents and turn them to good account, attaining thereby what Jesus termed "a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."

The exercise of our spiritual faculties dissipates any doubt engendered by self-depreciation. Honesty, a jewel among human qualities, encourages and develops business because it exhales a sweet atmosphere of trust. The value of intelligence, wisdom, and justice is incalculable when put into practice in the various transactions which every day demands. How truly are our commercial and other relations facilitated by humility, patience, discretion, and moral courage!

God's constant care, always at hand to uplift human thought, is magnificently interpreted by Mrs. Eddy. In a passage full of inspiration, she says (Science and Health, p. 514): "In the figurative transmission from the divine thought to the human, diligence, promptness, and perseverance are likened to 'the cattle upon a thousand hills.' They carry the baggage of stern resolve, and keep pace with highest purpose."

The richness and variety of God's ideas are incomparable. They prove the tender love and impartiality of the Father, who knows neither bias nor favoritism, but endows each of His children equally. Consequently, no one who accepts spiritual ideas can be limited. All have the privilege of being about the Father's business, of expressing God, who illumines the universe with love and goodness.