The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-01-11
Saving and Spending

may be surprised to note the
~ amount of mental mileage de-
voted to saving and spending as
related to meeting the human need
In fact, many mortals seem to carry
on perpetual conversation with
themselves as to what they shall
spend and what they shall not spend,
how much they shall save and how
much they wish they could save.
Here someone may interpose: "Are
you implying that saving and spend
ing are not worthy of considerable
thought and attention? Surely these
are important human activities and
should have careful consideration"
The problem of meeting human
needs certainly merits careful, even
prayerful thought, but never is there
reason for fearful or anxious thought
taking. 1t is important to happiness
to understand that the human need
is met through spiritual understand
ing, through intelligent faith in God,
rather than through mere money
making and spending or human
planning, however detailed. Christ
Jesus gave the perfect rule for meet
ing human needs when he said
(Matthew 6:33), seek we first the
kingdom of God, and his righteous
ness; and all these things shall be
added unto YOU"
Jesus set an example of loving and
compassionate meeting of human
needs, yet how little is said in the
Gospels about saving and spending
On one occasion, after feeding a
multitude, the Master recommended
that the fragments of loaves and
fishes be gathered in order that moth
ing should be lost. Here was an
example of thrift worthy of emula-
ton in the affairs of families and of
nations. In Jesus words and works
there was never an instance of fear
full thought taking for the human
need, never hint of selfish or
thoughtless spending. He was aware
of the care of his heavenly Father
and knew that mans need is met
through conscious unity with God,
his divine source.
The belief that good comes either
of saving or of spending is the basic
error underlying limitation. God,
the author of all good, constantly
blesses His children. Good is always
at hand and is not to be had through
spending or through saving money
or bodily energy or any material
commodity. We may well spend
righteous effort in gaining an under
standing of God, and likewise we
may well save, untouched by the
world, our natural heritage of purity,
childiikeness, and grace. Thus we
place both saving and spending in
the spiritually mental realm and
open the way for a higher sense of
supply and freedom.
Foolish spending and fearful saw
ing both evidence the belief that
matter is substance and that supply
is material instead of spiritual. Since
Spirit is ever-present substance, the
proverbial rainy day can never come.
One might better save for sunny
day than for a rainy one.
Wisdom in the use of what we
have is essential to progress. Mary
Baker Eddy writes in miscellaneous
Writings" Up. 2S8), 'Wisdom in
human action begins with what is
nearest right under the circum-
stances, and thence achieves the abb
solute." 1t is certainly nearer right
to save money for humanitarian
effort than to spend foolishly on
things not needed. However, the
highest wisdom is constantly to seek
higher undl. standing of God and
daily to demonstrate that under
standing in higher and holier lives.
Living close to God we minimize the
demands of materiality and increase
our joyous demands on divine Love
for sustenance. Those demands are
met. Says the apostle (James 1:10,
"Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom
is no variableness, neither shadow
of turning" - The Christian Science
Monitor.