Supply

ELSIE C. WISE

The opening lines of the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy read, "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings." The individual who has always thought of supply in terms of matter, and has looked to material sources for this supply, must learn that "the sustaining infinite" is God, Mind; and the one who places his confidence in the "all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied" (Science and Health, p. 7), will not only find "to-day," his present experience, "big with blessings," but will also become conscious of the existence of a spiritual law operating to supply all human need.

Mind, which manifests itself in ideas, is the source of man's supply. It logically follows that man's real supply must be constituted of spiritual ideas. When speaking of the human need of food and raiment Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you;" but the spiritual import of this statement will live forever, because it states God's law of supply. The word "kingdom" means rule, dominion, and "his righteousness" may be interpreted as right or spiritual ideas. As we gain the correct idea of man and of his source of supply as divine Mind, and allow it to rule or dominate our thinking, we are putting into operation God's law of supply. Bearing out this thought, Mrs. Eddy writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment."

When the spiritual ideas which constitute man are reflected in our thinking, then what Paul names "the fruit of the Spirit" becomes manifest, namely, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." How often, however, when we carefully analyze our thoughts, do we find qualites exactly the opposite of those just quoted! Instead of love, we find hate or resentment; instead of joy and peace, we find fear; instead of gentleness, goodness, and meekness, we find that egotism, pride, and self-will are dominating our thinking; instead of faith, we find doubt and unbelief; and instead of temperance, love of extravagance and self-indulgence. Not until after these errors are uncovered, and disposed of as having no existence in the real man, does the demonstration of true substance take the place of the beliefs of lack and limitation.

Gratitude opens the way for men to grasp the truth. This was once proved to the writer, who after several days' struggle with an embarrassing sense of lack, realized that although the human demonstration was not yet made, it was her duty to be grateful and to give thanks for the truth revealed to her concerning God as man's source of supply. As thoughts of ingratitude and mental depression were replaced by thoughts of gratitude, the mental burden was suddenly lifted, and within a few hours the immediate need was far more than met, and in a very unexpected way.

It must be understood that matter is not real substance, since Spirit is the only substance. The sense of limitation arises from the belief that substance and supply are material. Whatever may be the case which presents itself for healing, there is always just one thing to heal; and that is the false belief in that specific case. The specific truth will heal the false belief. There is unlimited good in divine Mind for each of His children. The individual must, however, claim his birthright of unlimited supply. In the proportion that he lives and loves good, will good govern his thinking, and thus through reflection become his supply of good. Faithful obedience to the Beatitudes spiritualizes one's thought, thus destroying the beliefs which hinder the reflection of good; for thought filled with the desire for more righteousness, meekness, and humility can never be in want.

There are many in the world to-day in need of joy, kindness, compassion, and the one who knows that he possesses these knows also that there is a place of employment for him, because man's business is to reflect the attributes of Mind. Thus may the individual prove that God supplies every human need.

Paul points the way out of debt through the law of Love, for he said, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." To love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves fulfills our debt to God and our fellow-man. Can there be any other real debt?

Poverty is broken through the realization of man as God's idea, perfect and complete, and in eternal unity with God. This spiritualized consciousness will bring about whatever is necessary to meet the human need.

Man is the eternal recipient of Love's eternal giving. God's love never ceases to give health and happiness, sunshine and joy; and there is no power that can take away that which Love bestows upon man. Lack of trust in the Father's loving care promotes fear, which may be the cause of failure; and simple, childlike faith in God's goodness overcomes this fear.

Whatever the human activity may be, whatever one finds it his duty to do, one may demonstrate man's inseparable unity with God, the infinite source of all supply.

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