Article December 22, 1956 Issue

SUBSTANCE

PERRY H. RADCLIFFE

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gave to the world the true concept of substance—one quite different from that which is generally held. To those who are materially minded, existence seems to be corporeal and all life to reside in matter.

To popular thought, substance is largely confined to what can be seen, felt, heard, or comprehended by the material senses. Things are said to be substantial in proportion to such qualities as density, weight, thickness, and tensile strength. Also, substance often is measured in dollars and cents, and a wealthy individual is called a man of substance. To depend on such so-called substance is—to use an illustration of the Master's—to build one's house on the sand.

All things material are subject to change, decay, and dissolution. They are never constant, often prove unstable at a critical time, or may be entirely missing when most needed. The accumulation of worldly wealth does not of itself bring happiness, peace of mind, contentment, or even real security, as many have discovered.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

SUBSTANCE

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access