Substance

ELEANOR RICHEY JOHNSTON

With the study of Christian Science there dawns upon thought an understanding of true substance which changes one's preconceived sense of values. The belief that money is power seems to be almost universally accepted as a fact. In a government mint men and machines are at work making the coins and paper bills which careless thinking would endow with power. These, however, but represent a value which the government issuing them authorizes.

In her answer to the question, "What is substance?" on page 468 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says, "Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay," thus establishing the spiritual nature of true substance. From this definition the conclusion is reached that when "the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won" (ibid., p. 254) the symbol, money, will be among those things which are no longer needed, for divine supply will be understood to be altogether spiritual.

This conclusion is supported by the life and works of Christ Jesus, who through the understanding of spiritual substance increased the supply of food from a few small loaves and fishes to an amount sufficient to meet the needs of a multitude; who at a wedding feast turned water into wine of such a superior quality as to cause comment; who restored withered limbs to soundness, and who proved ever present Life to be present where death was believed to be in evidence.

A careful analysis of an apparent need of money usually results in the discovery that, primarily, it is not money that is needed. The need may be for food, shelter, educational opportunity, or any number of like things, for the attainment of which money has been considered necessary. It is a mistake, therefore, to believe that these needs can be supplied only through the exchange of money for them. This may not be the way in which it is to be proved that God is the source of all true supply. More of obedience to God's will and less of submission to human will and its outlining is often needed to lift thought into realization of the ever present spiritual supply that coexists with the real man.

Emerging from the educated belief of money as being power and the source of supply, a mother who had been earnestly working for a better educational opportunity for her son suddenly awoke to the joyful realization that it was not a certain number of dollars for tuition that was needed, but rather the healing realization that God's child is always under the protection of divine Love. Through this understanding the human need was met, a scholarship being offered from a totally unexpected source.

As money or material supply ceases to appear to be true substance, spiritual ideas take their right place in consciousness as real substance, and thus are found to be the supply that meets every human need. As his sense of values changes and he gains this higher understanding of substance and its availability, the Christian Scientist learns to ask himself, in a moment of perplexity or seeming misfortune or disappointment: What is the spiritual need for this emergency? Is it patience, forgiveness, love, courage, gratitude? Having learned that the need is for some spiritual idea, one should never be long at a loss to find it; for the Bible and the Christian Science textbook and Mrs. Eddy's other writings, as well as the Christian Science periodicals, abound in healing messages which, when applied to individual problems, point to the present spiritual substance that supplies the particular need.

Seen in this light, substance is understood to be spiritual, and therefore real, enduring; and this concept of supply destroys the doubt and fear which always accompany the thought of possible loss or absence of material supply, and also the belief in lack and its effects.

Every moment, including the present one, all that man can possibly need is being supplied, and must always continue to be supplied, since Mind, the one source, is infinite, inexhaustible, and ever active. We have ample assurance of this fact in our Leader's words, found on page 507 of Science and Health, "Spirit duly feeds and clothes every object, as it appears in the line of spiritual creation, thus tenderly expressing the fatherhood and motherhood of God."

Until we attain to the perfect understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him, we cannot know all of the wonder and beauty of the supply awaiting us; but each day's progress reveals some phase of the "treasure in the heavens that faileth not," spoken of by Jesus.

Prayer, steadfast holding to the truths of being, perpetual practice in seeking and finding the spiritual idea that meets the need, accompanied by a realization of the nothingness of lack and its effects, will be rewarded by the disappearance from experience of poverty and lack and by the bringing into manifestation of God's certain and sufficient supply.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit