Article June 17, 1939 Issue

Gratitude and Supply

HERBERT E. BONHAM

What assurance there is in the realization that the child of God can never be separated from good; that no matter what the material seeming may be, man coexists with God and reflects the abundance of Spirit, the only substance! We must be alert, however, that we do not allow error to tempt us to minimize the good and magnify the error; to minimize the supply and magnify the seeming lack.

It is recorded in the Gospel of John that Andrew, one of the twelve disciples, even after witnessing many proofs of the power of God, as demonstrated by the Master, answered Jesus' inquiry where bread should be secured to feed the five thousand, by saying, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Andrew saw lack, but Jesus saw abundant supply, for we are told in the same account that "he himself knew what he would do." Through his understanding of the power of God to meet every human need, the vast multitude was fed, and twelve baskets were filled with the fragments that remained after all had eaten. Here was abundant supply.

In studying this beautiful account of the power of God to meet the human need, we find that Jesus refused to accept the material sense of lack as real. That which was evident to the material senses seemed far from adequate to meet the immediate need. However, he utilized that which was at hand, and knew that God would give the increase. We also find that after he had given thanks, Jesus distributed the food to the disciples, and they to the multitude. Here we find gratitude expressed before the manifestation of abundance had been demonstrated. These are important lessons. How often our demonstration of supply is delayed through ingratitude, through magnifying that which seems to be lacking, and minimizing, or failing to acknowledge, the good which is already at hand! On page 3 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."

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Effective Standpoint
June 17, 1939
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