If one were to ask the first ten individuals he met their concept of good, he undoubtedly would receive ten varying replies which would be certain to include one or more of the following: material wealth, a successful career, satisfying companionship, congenial environment, and fame, To define good in terms of material things or conditions and think of it as something external to the individual is indigenous to the limited thinking of mortal mind.

Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, states the Christian Scientist's view of good in these words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 206): "The real Christian Scientist is constantly accentuating harmony in word and deed, mentally and orally, perpetually repeating this diapason of heaven: 'Good is my God, and my God is good. Love is my God, and my God is Love.'"

Essential to this recognition that good is God is a knowledge of the nature and character of God. This knowledge is ours as we ponder Mrs. Eddy's definition of God in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." There she writes (p. 465), "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

When we conceive of good in terms of this concept of God, the infinite and spiritual nature of good is revealed. The deduction logically follows that good, being incorporeal, cannot be localized; nor does it originate in human personalities, but is the one infinite Person. Good cannot be subject to anything, for nothing exists outside of God's infinitude. Good has neither starting point nor terminal. The seven synonyms for God qualify the substance of good.

Man, the exact image and likeness of good, expresses all of good's qualities. God being infinite, intelligent Mind, Spirit, man must be completely intelligent and spiritual. Reflecting Principle, man expresses absolute integrity. Since God is Life, man is alive to good. Because God is eternal Truth, man is always truthful. God is boundless Love; therefore man is loving and loved. Thus endowed, man is the expression of all the good that exists, for he reflects the fullness of God. As the ever-continuing evidence of the nature and essence of God, man cannot be separated from good. "In him we live, and move, and have our being," declares the Apostle Paul.

God alone is good, and responsible for man's good. Any attempt to deify human beings deserves the rebuke which the Master gave to the ruler who would personalize good. "Why callest thou me good?" asked Jesus. And he explained, "None is good, save one, that is, God" (Luke 18:19). Man cannot have more than God. In her beautiful chapter entitled "Prayer" in Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 2): "God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? God is intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of anything He does not already comprehend? Do we expect to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept?"

The true idea of God is the true idea of good. Our purpose in gaining the correct concept of God is not the attainment of material objectives, but the spiritualization of thought which enables us to behold the good that already is. In the words of a hymn (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 391):

As the architect visualizes a particular house before he makes his first drawing, so thoughts are apprehended mentally before they are made manifest in experience. The primary importance of knowing God aright is clearly seen when we accept the fact that our homes, relationships, supply, and health are but signs and symbols of our individual concepts of God.

For example, a student of Christian Science once found herself dissatisfied with her surroundings, her relationships, and her sense of supply. In order to remedy the situation she sought certain material objectives and made many attempts to change the material picture. After months of fruitless efforts she realized that she had been thinking of good as material—more money, a beautiful house, congenial companions. With the unfoldment in her thought that good is not material but spiritual, she decided to turn unreservedly to God and seek to know Him better. In a short time she felt a great sense of gratitude for the home where she was and the many advantages it offered her and her family. More love was expressed toward and received from those with whom she was associated. By a more intelligent arrangement of the time at her disposal she was able to engage in work for which she felt particularly fitted. And so she proved that to be successful the search for good must be the search for God.

Our desire for an understanding of spiritual good is fulfilled as we obey Paul's command, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Spiritual understanding is not a human accomplishment, but the gift of God.

Ignorance of true being is the only joylessness. Materiality is the only poverty. Failure to express spiritual selfhood constitutes the only lack. Let us heed the blessed invitation of Holy Writ (Ps. 34:8), "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Good is veritably continuous, safe, and indestructible, for good is the one God.