Paul writes, in his second epistle to the Corinthians, "Such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." Paul had proved in his own experience that complete reliance on God, the all-knowing, ever-present, infinite, divine Mind, gives one the intelligence, ability, discernment, and strength needed in any right undertaking.
Christian Science teaches that God, Mind, is the creator of the universe, including man. It teaches that since man is made in the likeness of God, as the Bible declares, he expresses all the qualities of God, divine Mind, such as wisdom, understanding, activity, loving-kindness, purity, joy, spontaneity, uprightness, perfection. The understanding of the real man, as wholly spiritual, put into practice, constitutes true self-sufficiency.
The false or personal sense of self-sufficiency is based on the belief that man has existence in matter, apart from God; that this material personality, rather than spiritual individuality, is man; and that matter has intelligence and power. A dictionary defines "self-sufficiency" as "overweening confidence in one's self; hence arrogance; not needing or not caring for co-operation or companionship." The Christian Scientist, endeavoring to prove in daily living that his "sufficiency is of God," relinquishes the false confidence in personal sense and gains complete confidence in God as All. Knowing that God is his Life, he learns to be truly humble. And because he has learned that man exists as God's reflection, he desires and is assured of divine protection and guidance.
