The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-09-05
Financial Independence

for ones needs and to meet ones
human obligations, is indeed legiti-
mate. The difficulties encountered in
trying to accumulate and to safe
guard material possessions have
taught many that security is not to
be found in matter, and that the
practical way TO financial indepen-
dence is the spiritual way. 80.
In Miscellaneous Writings" Mary
Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and
Founder of Christian Science, writes
Up. 307), God gives you His spirit
ual ideas, and in turn, they give you
daily supplies"
But" one may say, Stood and
clothing and houses are material,
and yet essential to ones comfort
and existence. How can spiritual
ideas furnish these supplies?" In
answer, let us ask another question.
Have we not known Of cases in
which integrity, dependability, gen.
tleness, love, faith, and other similar
qualities have brought very tangible
returns in the form of position, inn
proved business, or direct monetary
income? Such qualities are always
in demand, and their exercise often
brings unexpected rewards. They
indicate the presence of God, divine
Love, infinite Mind, the source of
true health, strength, wisdom, OPP
portunity. In contrast, complain
ing disposition, self-pity, fear, envy,
resentment, and worry bring no in
come of good, but have, rather, a
minus value. They must be dis
carded for Godlike qualities if we
are to see God, good, expressed in
our daily experience.
As we strive to understand God
and to recognize man as made in His
image and likeness, manifesting Him,
we become conscious of a valuable
fund of right thoughts with which
to correct every erroneous condition.
1t is no mere theory which proclaims
that one who is expressing divine
qualities cannot remain in physical
need, for it is a demonstrable fact
that the mental state determines the
outward circumstances. When ones
mental home is clean and pure, filled
with Christlike thoughts, one can
not remain in squalid physical sur
roundings; or, when ones conscious
ness is overlooking with loving, un-
critical thoughts for all who cross
his path, he cannot long experience
lack; and when one is working dill
gently at his real business of reflect
ing God, who is Love, he need have
no fear of lack of business oppor-
tunities.
To reach a state wherein we felt
that we no longer needed to trust
God for our daily supplies would be
poverty indeed; while the greatest
wealth we can gain is the establish
ment of fund of absolute faith in
our heavenly Fathers power and
willingness to provide adequately
for all His children. Recognizing
Him as the only creator, as divine
Principle, supporting the universe
He has created, we learn to drop the
worry and heavy weight of personal
responsibility that often lead to sick
ness and human inefficiency; and we
gain sense of permanent peace and
security. We should ask for nothing
which might retard our efforts to
gain better understanding of God
or lessen our reliance upon Him.
The wise writer of the Proverbs said
proverbs 30:8), "Give me neither
poverty nor riches"
Christ Jesus proved on many oc-
casions that temporary needs are
supplied through spiritual power.
The two instances recorded in the
Gospels of the feeding of the multi
tudes offer valuable lessons for all
humanity. The Master having given
thanks for what was at hand, dis
pensed it in a wise and orderly man.
ner; and after demonstrating that
more than enough was available, he
allowed not even the surplus to be
wasted.
Christian Science does not advo-
cate an irresponsible attitude toward
our financial obligations; rather
does it demand economy, wisdom,
and strict adherence to the Biblical
command (Romans 1879, Cove no
man any thing, but to love one an
other" Instead of encouraging idle
ness, it enables one to accomplish
more because of his reliance upon
God. -.
There are needs in the experience
of all mankind that no amount of
money can supply, and those who
are leaning upon God know that
these needs, too, are met by divine
Love. That which satisfies the deep
yearnings of the heart is the under
standing of mans inseparability
from God, good, a divinely bestowed
inheritance not subject to loss or at
fected by a fluctuating market.
Good is inexhaustible. As Gods
provision for mans needs is un-
folded to us, we gain dominion over
the belief that material possessions
can either produce or rob us of hap
piness. We become financially indie
pendent when we see that we can
not be governed by the love Of
money or fear of its lack.
That anything of value can be