We sometimes hear students of Christian Science say, "I have had many physical healings, but when it comes to supply, that's another story!" Nothing seems more aggressive and burdensome to human sense than the false supposition that matter, with all its limitations, is real and substantial and has power to circumscribe our experiences and limit both demand and supply. When we fail to find supply for every need, it is because we are looking in the wrong direction for it! Matter cannot think nor act; it lacks wisdom and intelligence; it has no ideas to give. Fear of lack, doubts, and misgivings disappear as we guard against the false carnal mind with its worry, distrust, greed, or vacillation, all of which would rob us of the changeless substance of eternal Spirit, God.

We learn in Christian Science that supply and demand are one and are divinely mental or spiritual. Supply is in reality divine substance, God, or Mind, evidenced in God's limitless abundance of spiritual ideas. There is perfect balance between supply and demand. Supply needs demand to call it forth; and God, the All-in-all, holds within Himself the substance of His own nature forever finding expression in man.

Spiritual riches are acquired as the Christ, Truth, gently detaches thought from a material sense of existence, which includes poverty and limitation, and unites it with omnipresent, ever-unfolding divine Mind and its abundance of ideas. These words by Mrs. Eddy bear close study: "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." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307;}

A fresh understanding of supply as consisting of spiritual ideas rather than money is a great step toward demonstrating the true sense of both demand and supply. This will also check a tendency toward unnecessary spending and extravagance, competitive display, or inordinate love of material things. Only as we daily meet our obligations to God will distressing financial conditions recede from thought and our obligations to mankind be met fully and promptly.

A Christian Scientist once learned a valuable lesson as to the spiritual nature of demand and supply. When a special collection was being taken in her church, she looked in her wallet for a bill she had previously set aside for the purpose. Placed beside this was a larger bill intended for her week's marketing. While she pondered as to which bill she should give, these words of Mrs. Eddy's came to her thought: "Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us." ^{Science and Health, p. 79;}

A deep sense of gratitude flooded her consciousness, because she knew that everything in her joyful and progressive experience she owed to Christian Science. The motive or demand for giving was pure and the occasion righteous; therefore God would provide the supply for the church and for herself. The limited thought vanished. The ever-present Christ made the decision! With joy she gave the larger sum to the church. Proof of God's inexhaustible resources was shown the following evening when her husband presented her with an unexpected bonus that he had been given and that was many times larger than the sum she had given to the church.

To the Way-shower, Christ Jesus, demand and supply appeared divinely natural and ever available, whether the need was for tax money, wedding wine, or a meal for a multitude; for he knew the Father to be the infinite provider, forever saying, as the father said to his elder son in Jesus' parable, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." ^{Luke 15:31;} We too may turn to God with the receptivity and trust of a little child when a legitimate need arises and realize that it cannot remain unfulfilled, bring disappointment, or leave us unsatisfied. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Rest assured that He in whom dwelleth all life, health, and holiness, will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory." ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 186.}

Today—right now—we may see man as God's perfect and complete image and likeness, demanding and accepting only good and conscious of richly possessing and sharing abundant supply from the infinite Giver of all good.