Substance and Supply

[Original article in German]

ANNA EMMA META LANGEN

Supply is spiritual, therefore ever present and universal. The perception of this fact is essential to right thinking, feeling, and acting. Substance is infinite Mind, divine Principle, which maintains perpetual supply. By expressing true qualities we fulfill the law of divine Principle, and thereby come into unity with God, the source of all supply. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Knowing the true God, Life, Truth, Love, frees us from the belief in lack and limitation, and enables us to perceive divine Principle, the source of all supply. God is the source of affluence. It is not only our right, but also our duty, to express the abundance of God. Lack of justice, truth, and love; of obedience, loyalty, and gratitude; of joy, health, and power; of order, diligence, cleanliness, well-being, progress, and success, does not testify of God. Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 453): "Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help." Honesty, as well as all other true qualities, such as sincerity, loyalty, purity, kindness, gentleness, love, selflessness, mercy, and so forth, reveals the divine Mind, and is the evidence of spiritual power and supply.

All that belongs to God belongs to man through reflection. God is the source of all real activity. God—Mind, Life, Love—is uninterruptedly expressed. The real man, the reflection of God, is eternally occupied in reflecting divine qualities. This activity is never dependent on time or material circumstances. The Christian Scientist can begin to express this right activity just where he is. And thus he will come into better conditions of living; his health, strength, and joy will increase, and he will demonstrate in a measure God's affluence.

Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307), "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." It is necessary to receive these spiritual ideas in order to experience "daily supplies." In reality, activity is not material, but spiritual. The more we think of serving God and man in our work, the more selflessness, care, diligence, and endurance we must bring into expression; the more we rejoice in doing all for the sake of divine Principle, for "the glory of God," the more will our work become unwearying, successful, and rewarding. Every idea is necessary in God's infinite plan. None is superfluous. None is insignificant. No right work is done in vain. Also, the most menial work offers an opportunity to express spiritual qualities as certainly as does the most outstanding, responsible activity. Humility and willingness to serve humanity are indispensable. Each one must contribute in the right way to the expression of God's infinite plan, so that the abundance of Life and God's glory may be revealed.

Christian Science teaches us how to grasp the right concept of supply by teaching us the true relation between God and man. The understanding of God necessarily includes the understanding of man, who is the likeness or reflection of God. Whoever ponders the spiritual truth that God is "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (Science and Health, p. 587), perceives that God's representative, man, who possesses spiritual qualities through the reflection of God, is now and ever cared for. Since in the divine Mind there is no inactivity, no unemployment, there is none for man, who expresses God.

We demonstrate these true facts of being in the measure that we cease to believe in erroneous material conditions, such as lack, limitation, weakness, sickness, and poverty, and know that they are unknown to God, and therefore are unreal and powerless. They disappear from our experience as we turn to divine Principle, claim our divine birthright, and manifest obedience and gratitude. God withholds nothing from any of His children. Each one has free access to divine strength and intelligence. This strength and its faithful and conscientious application lead us progressively out of servitude to human beliefs. Thus we gradually prove our dominion over them.

Through the teachings of Christian Science we learn to apply in the right way our God-bestowed abilities, capacities, and talents, so that we may always be ready to receive more. The promise of the Scriptures is being fulfilled: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

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