Editorial May 12, 1945 Issue

Freedom from Want

Margaret Morrison

Freedom from want! This is one of the ideals promised and looked forward to when nations shall have ceased wasting their wealth on war and shall have turned their thought to ways of peace. How can this freedom be won and mankind no more be in want? The answer to this query will be found through the understanding and demonstration of Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, on page 231 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," says, "Unless an ill is rightly met and fairly overcome by Truth, the ill is never conquered." The truth of this statement is confirmed by the continuing failure to meet the claim of want by material ways and means. Those ways and means fail because of a mental need—need of love and intelligence, wisdom and judgment, spiritual enlightenment.

Matter never brought enlightenment on any subject, never bestowed wisdom or judgment, love or intelligence. No amount of money or material wealth will rightly heal the belief in poverty. Only scientific understanding of God, divine Mind, can do that. Material poverty and wealth are but opposite phases of a false concept of wealth. In order then to meet the ill of poverty rightly, it is necessary to attain the true, scientific concept of wealth. This true concept was given by wise men of old when they declared the value of wisdom and understanding to be above that of fine gold and choice silver, rubies and topaz, pearls and sapphires. For, they say, wisdom and understanding give durable riches, sound judgment, and righteousness, and cause those that love them to inherit substance.

Christ Jesus never made a theoretical, merely philosophical, or sentimentally religious statement. His statements are declarations of law to be understood, obeyed, and demonstrated. He gave the perfect remedy for poverty for all time and for all peoples in that oft-quoted but generally disregarded law, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." As God is Mind, the kingdom of God is just the kingdom of Mind. In that kingdom of Mind, infinite divine Love, there can be found nothing less than infinite abundance—no haunting fear of lack, no possible abatement, depletion, or exhaustion of its bounty. As one understands that one dwells in Mind and is the object of its tender care and love, the very expression of its own being, can one be less than utterly secure, bountifully provided for, actively employed?

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