Divine Sufficiency

CHARLES V. WINN

ONE of the things for which students of Christian Science are most grateful is the fact that its teaching removes from their thought any limited or restricted concept of God. Throughout the writings of Mrs. Eddy there is constantly iterated and reiterated the eternal fact of God's unlimited wisdom, goodness, and love. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 41) she says, "The divine Principle which governs the universe, including man, if demonstrated, is sufficient for all emergencies." But even the most advanced students of Christian Science need to be alert, lest false material sense try to lead them into dependence on any other than this all-sufficient divine Principle and its power.

Christian Science denies emphatically that the power of God is ever available to one but not to another. Our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, says on page 13, "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals." God's love is all-enfolding and immeasurable, and we can never find ourselves in any situation where His power cannot be exercised in our behalf. When this great truth permeates human consciousness, the pernicious teaching of false theology that at one time in human history God healed the sick, but that we can no longer hope for this beneficent exercise of His power, will have been destroyed.

We cannot remind ourselves too often that God is infinite Mind. There is hardly an hour in the day when we are not called upon to make a decision of some sort. Sometimes it may be of a minor nature; and sometimes it may be of great importance. Nevertheless, there is always the right decision, and infinite Mind knows what that is; and as man is God's reflection we can know what He would have us do at all times and under all conditions. We frequently hear it said, I cannot be thinking Christian Science all the time; I have to be thinking about my affairs. Now we never cease thinking. We are thinking about something all the time; and we are thinking either correctly or incorrectly. We are holding either a false, material concept or a spiritually true concept about everything with which we have to do. Why not, then, turn to the all-sufficient, all-knowing Mind, God, to guide us in all our ways? As we learn to do this, our failures will become less and less, and success in righteous endeavor will become the rule of life.

God is infinite wisdom, and there is nothing real or true or good which He does not understand. Man, as the expression of God, reflects this infinite understanding. God is infinite good; and the real man, as God's image and likeness, must always have a good understanding. Man, then, always has sufficient God-bestowed understanding to overcome any adverse conditions which he may encounter. Paul says, "Our sufficiency is of God;" and we may be sure that if God gives us work to do, He will supply bountifully the ability and capacity to do it.

This scientific truth does away with all self-seeking and mad ambition, for we learn to desire only the place and the work which God has for us. When God equips us, we always find our right place in His vineyard. His infinite wisdom never makes mistakes; and we cannot be misled when our only desire is to do what He would have us do.

Another helpful truth which Christian Science brings to us is that "our sufficiency is of God" now. God does not know anything about the limitations of time. God never ordained that His blessings should be postponed or delayed, or should be available only after the lapse of time. There never will be more good than there is now. God's work is done; and it is sufficient unto all our needs now. God will never be any more wise, loving, or possessed of greater power than He is at the present moment. Let us recognize that His great love and truth are adequate to deliver us now. Let us lay hold upon His promises now, and know that God and His ideas are all that are real now. Let us clearly recognize that the treatment we give to-day has the seed of truth within itself to uplift, purify, and redeem. Then we shall never be tempted to arrange for treatments far in advance, but shall have the divine certainty that the day of salvation is now. God never lacks anything, because He is self-existent and self-expressed, and He never fails to supply whatever will bless His creation. As the great apostle so beautifully expressed it: "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

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