Article June 19, 1954 Issue

"WHAT WE MOST NEED"

HELENA GRACE GLEASON

If one were to ask a group of persons individually, "What do you most need?" there would undoubtedly be many different answers to the inquiry. While some would recognize their real need to be entirely apart from that which is material and temporal, others would feel that their need was some form of matter.

According to the Scriptural record, when the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and said (I Kings 3:5), "Ask what I shall give thee," Solomon replied: "I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in .... Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" The Bible states further that the Lord was pleased with Solomon's request, and that in addition to receiving a wise and an understanding heart he was given riches and honor. Solomon's choice in seeking divine guidance above material riches was an early evidence of the wisdom which was to characterize him.

Students of Christian Science are learning that the one thing most needed is spiritual growth and the subsequent subjugation of material desire. And they are turning prayerfully to the Bible and to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy for guidance. Mrs. Eddy writes under the marginal heading "Efficacious petitions" (Science and Health p. 4), "What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." This simple statement leaves no doubt as to the over-all worth of spiritual riches. It admits of no compromise. The desire for a larger business, a better home, or different friends is irrelevant when weighed in the scale of fervent prayer for growth in grace.

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