"A Man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Thus Christ Jesus admonished his disciples (Luke 12:15); and then, as he often did, he brought home the lesson in a parable. "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully," we are told; and when he found that he did not have sufficient room to hoard all his produce, he said, "This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods." How tempting and seemingly simple to the material senses was this solution, to enjoy ease in matter! The rich man thought that with material substance stored up for many years he had only to "eat, drink, and he merry." But that night he perished, and the material treasures which he had provided for himself were left to another. "So," said Jesus, "is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Today much attention is focused on the subject of material security, including the making of sound investments. While this course is sensible, the accumulation of material possessions often brings a false sense of security, responsibility, worry, and fear of deflation and loss. Many individuals have come to lean too much on the belief that the hoarding of material possessions ensures their comfort and security, instead of seeking first the blessedness and stability of the kingdom of heaven by understanding and reflecting divine Mind, the source of all good.

Christ Jesus, the great Wayshower, consistently turned the thoughts of his listeners from the material to the spiritual, from possessions to Principle. In his immortal Sermon on the Mount he counseled his hearers (Matt, 6: 33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

A dictionary definition of "investment" shows first its derivational meaning to be the state of being enveloped or clothed, and secondly, its current usage to signify "the investing of money or capital in some species of property for income or profit." Our divinely inspired Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, illustrates the first meaning in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 349). She writes: "Christian Science is a divine largess, a gift of God— understood by and divinely natural to him who sits at the feet of Jesus clothed in truth, who is putting off the hypothesis of matter because he is conscious of the allness of God— 'looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.' Thus the great Way-shower, invested with glory, is understood, and his words and works illustrate 'the way, the truth, and the life.'" Through understanding and spiritualization of thought we put off the worn garments of insecurity, instability, and mortality and are spiritually clothed anew in the pure raiment of Christ, Truth, the immortal sovereignty of Life.

The rich storehouse of infinite good revealed by divine Science is available to all who desire and seek a spiritual understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him. Christian Science shows us how to prove that spiritual man possesses by reflection all the qualities of divine Mind. He has perfect security peace, happiness, and freedom, and he is never lacking in any good thing. Prayerful, consecrated study and application of the teachings of Christian Science increasingly free one from the limited beliefs of materiality. A clear realization of the perfection of God, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever," and of His creation, man, as eternally secure and provided for because he lives in Life— changeless, ageless, indestructible, and immortal—brings harmony and abundance into one's consciousness, and consequently into his daily experience, and destroys the false belief that matter affords security and happiness. What a wonderful sense of security and harmonious being is ours when we understand that man is invested with the glorious reality of Life, Truth, and Love, and that divine Love will always supply the human need, whatever it be!

A student of Christian Science who had been living in a home where all her material needs were supplied was forced to move. At first the situation seemed overwhelming, because she felt that her income was not sufficient to maintain an apartment and take care of other human needs. Then this statement having to do with the loss of friends came to her (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, p. 266): "When this hour of development comes, even if you cling to a sense of personal joys, spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth." "Spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth." repeated itself over and over in her consciousness as a guiding and encouraging light, at a time when loneliness clamored for admittance. Because of the persistency of this angel message, she turned completely away from matter and prayerfully asked God to guide her into the right place, knowing with scientific certainty that her supply was at hand.

The first apartment she looked at was quite expensive, much more than she had ever expected to pay. When she mentioned this to the woman who was showing her the apartment, the latter looked at her and said, "Nothing is too good for those who are good." Instantly the Christian Scientist recognized that God was speaking to her through this individual, whom she had never seen before. She suddenly realized that her spiritual resources were infinite and unlimited, and that all she had to do was to utilize them. So, without any thought of fear or limitation, she signed the lease for the apartment.

A few days later, when a member of her family expressed anxiety and doubt as to whether she had been wise to take on such a responsibility, the Christian Scientist declined to accept this limited, finite sense of things and resolved to claim the spiritual ideas or qualities of infinite Love referred to in Matthew (6:20): "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." She declared emphatically that she had these treasures stored up. The manifestation of this scientific right thinking and prayerful work was beyond all human expectation, and the years which followed were rich with spiritual growth and joyous, fruitful activity, free from fear or worry.

The foregoing incident proves conclusively that the need was met because of a change of thinking. The improved material circumstance outwardly evidences one's increased understanding of Truth. When we place radical reliance upon divine Principle's unfailing guidance and provision, we see the operation of the law of God, good. Through prayer and spiritual inspiration we draw near the divine heights of spiritual understanding, which constitutes the kingdom of heaven within our consciousness.

Christian Science teaches that God, good, is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. Consequently it must follow that He is the only source or origin of substance and power. Only by realizing that all power, all presence, and all Science belong to God, and that man in His image and likeness has the reflected ability to act with divine authority, can we avail ourselves of spiritual substance and demonstrate the ever-availability of overflowing good. Every time we exchange a belief of lack or limitation, sickness, sin, or death, for a spiritual idea we are utilizing the divine power, and these ideas in turn supply our daily needs. "There is no power apart from God," writes our beloved Leader in Science and Health (p. 228); and she adds, "Omnipotence has all-power, and to acknowledge any other power is to dishonor God."