Substance

Two instances in the experience of the writer have strengthened his faith in the practicability of Scriptural admonition and counsel and have tended to lessen the fear of lack through a clearer understanding of substance. On page 170 of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany” Mrs. Eddy, in an address to Christian Scientists congregating at her home on a memorable occasion, said: “I would present a gift to you to-day, only that this gift is already yours. God hath given it to all mankind. It is His coin, His currency; it has His image and superscription. This gift is a passage of Scripture; it is my sacred motto, and it reads thus:—Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.'”

One Sunday I was attending service in a Christian Science church at a shore resort. When the time came for the contribution I realized that I had too little change in my pocket to give, and as I reached for my wallet to take out a bill the suggestion came to me that I could not afford to give the amount that would be necessary under the circumstances, that after all the bit of change would suffice as I was giving liberally to the church of which I was a member. My training in Christian Science, however, came to the rescue quickly. At once the sense of limitation was detected, and in the few minutes I had before the contribution plate would come to me I set to work to heal this false sense of substance.

I reasoned thus: Since money is a medium of exchange, a symbol of supply to the human sense that can see no farther, if I were to put the bill in believing that in so doing I was depriving myself, the effect would be that in my own thought I would be limiting the church as much as myself. In other words, I would be declaring for the church as well as for myself that supply was material and therefore limited. Such a theory would be inadmissible. The truth of the matter must be just the reverse of this false argument. In this new aspect what I would be putting into the contribution plate would be a representative of values and would express a sense of God’s infinite supply.

Soon after the United States declared war and the enlistment in Army and Navy started, a regiment was formed and stationed in barracks near my home. Among the men were several interested in Christian Science. I saw the opportunity for good work there. Our literature, and especially the Monitor, could be used to give the men an understanding of what they were going forth to do. Naturally this would make them more intelligent warriors in a righteous cause, and so more valuable to the Government. It might be said here, as incidental to the story, that this regiment was among the first to be brought into conflict with the enemy, and it acquitted itself with honor. The work developed surprisingly, and soon led me to the Navy Yard where still larger possibilities opened up to me. Not only was there a growing demand for the literature, but there were other needs, seemingly more material, but essential to the morale of the men.

This work had been entered into joyously, but soon the suggestion came that it was taking time that was needed for other work from which I believed my supply was coming, and it was taking money that was coming in to me none too abundantly. I began to fret in confusion. At this point Truth again started me to reasoning rightly. The work had been undertaken to meet a spiritual need and had developed logically. Already there was abundant proof of its value. The occasion was righteous and the work was God’s. It was, then, not only God-inspired but must be God-sustained. I was not the source of supply, but rather at that moment the expression of supply. It was for me to obey the call to “preach the gospel” and “heal the sick.” This understanding relieved me of the fear, knowing that man’s only business is to do the will of God. From then on the sense of limitation left me, and it was not until sometime later that I realized not only that my regular work was increasing and still I had more time to devote to the welfare of my brothers who were giving their all, but also that there were abundant resources to meet the money demands for literature and creature comforts. At this point, when the proof of God’s allness and His abundant resources had been demonstrated, our War Relief committee, which had been organized in the meantime, took charge of the work and I was engaged to continue the activities.

These two experiences, along much the same line, have meant a great deal to me, and have in a large measure served to release me from the bondage of fear and limitation. They have enabled me to endure through still larger testing times. Surely we cannot afford to obstruct the action of divine Love in human experience because of personal responsibilities, but may confidently heed the closing words of our revered Leader in the address above referred to. Her own experience was a demonstration of God’s infinite goodness, and her emphatic admonition to her followers was summed up in these words on page 171 of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany”: “Trust in Truth, and have no other trusts.”