In Christian Science I’ve learned that man is the expression of God’s infinite being and that this spiritual fact can be demonstrated on the human scene. I’ve also found that “gratitude is riches” and “complaint is poverty,” as a hymn from the Christian Science Hymnal (Vivian Burnett, No. 249) says.

At one point when I was between jobs, I was stressed about finances and was watching my spending carefully. As I sat in church one Sunday, trying to decide whether I should contribute my usual amount to the collection, I thought of something a Christian Science practitioner had shared: that an open palm that is ready to give is also ready to receive. It represents abundance flowing in and out. A fist, which is closed and can’t give or receive, represents scarcity. 

With that insight, I decided to give my normal amount. I felt at peace because my study and practice of Christian Science had shown me that God is the infinite source of all good, and that man is God’s complete expression, lacking nothing. 

That afternoon I helped a friend and her husband, who were getting ready to move. I did some chores, nothing heavy, and I wasn’t expecting anything from them for it. But as we were wrapping up, my friend gave me a box of stuff she thought I could use, plus a few other nice things that I had always appreciated—and on top of the box was some cash. The amount was way more than necessary for gas and the help I’d provided, but she insisted that I accept the gift. 

I am so grateful for this small, but important, proof of God’s abundant and ever-present provision. It had a lasting impact, reminding me of what Christ Jesus taught and proved and what his devoted follower Mary Baker Eddy shared with the world—that when we place our trust in God and His care, abundance in our daily lives is the natural outcome.

Ted Junker
Richmond, Virginia, US