Satisfactory business activity is not something that just happens. It is always the result of intelligent thought and action. It is the child of constructive ideas.

The study and practice of Christian Science can help any sincere businessman to lay hold of right ideas by learning to understand their divine source and his own relationship to this source. He can learn to know himself as the reflection of God, all-knowing divine Mind.

A modern businessman can utilize the same intelligent forces that Christ Jesus so effectively applied. The Master exhibited ability, acumen, and foresight far beyond the capacity of anyone that ever lived. It was said of him, "He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." ^{Mark 7:37;} His concept of business was to serve the cause of Truth, to bear witness to spiritual being and the possibility of all men reflecting the unlimited capacities of the one Mind. He promised that those who believed on him—accepted and understood his teachings—would do the works that he performed.

Elsewhere the master Christian pointed out that as his followers sought first the inner kingdom—the deep, subjective recognition of man's unity with God—needed human things would surely follow. It is as though he were saying to us, Give primacy to real business, the work of expressing the love and integrity of the divine nature, and the practical requirements of our daily affairs will be abundantly supplied. Right, spiritual ideas will well up in thought from their source in divine Mind, and from them will come progressive business concepts and the means for carrying them into action.

The perfect solution to every business problem is present here and now, and if a businessman is humble and willing enough to study, pray, and listen for Mind's direction, the needed guidance will be there when required.

Jesus tapped the limitless resources of infinite Mind by silencing a material, personal sense of self, and by acknowledging this Mind to be the divine Principle of his every thought and act. He surrendered the limited sense of himself as a little brain-controlled ego and recognized God to be the very I or Ego of his being. He said, "I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me." ^{John 8:16;}

The workaday business world is one proving ground where a student of Christian Science can put these metaphysical facts to the test and find their intense practicality. His daily work gives him plenty of opportunities to practice what he has learned of Science in his contacts with colleagues and customers and in the degree of excellence he brings to all his duties. Mrs. Eddy writes, "We are all sculptors, working out our own ideals, and leaving the impress of mind on the body as well as on history and marble, chiselling to higher excellence, or leaving to rot and ruin the mind's ideals. Recognizing this as we ought, we shall turn often from marble to model, from matter to Mind, to beautify and exalt our lives." ^{The People's Idea of God, p. 7;}

This is a lofty pattern of thought and action couched in terms that we hear little of today. However, it is far from being an airy abstraction. It is the scientific basis for genuine success in any human activity. It is the foundation of real business, the work of expressing the goodness of God. This business is not dependent on economic factors. They play no part in it at all.

When given first place in our lives, spiritual values leaven our experience and environment. Christian Science shows human experience to be the outward expression of human thought, and when this is uplifted and motives are made pure, every aspect of our domestic and business life can be affected positively. Just as a healthy body is the effect of an active spirituality, so a business organization will flourish when governed by God-oriented thought. Mrs. Eddy's words apply to both cases: "A little more grace, a motive made pure, a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the movement of body and soul in accord with God." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 354;}

As a young man the writer was associated with a specialty company employing a large sales force. Salesmen constantly came and went, but those who stayed and succeeded were the ones who were concerned with giving service to their customers. They were not always the glib talkers, but they did an honest selling job and followed through conscientiously, making certain that satisfaction was given. They established a reputation of integrity, and it paid off in repeat orders.

These men were utilizing qualities of thought that were allied to omnipotent, omniscient Mind, and the inevitable result was harmony and progress. This law of good is available to all. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ^{II Tim. 2:15.}

Alan A. Aylwin