AS students of Christian Science, we need to be as alert to shut the door of our consciousness on the world's pictures of disturbed economic conditions as we are to shut it on the suggestions of disease, danger, or discord. We cannot believe that the so-called laws of economics—inflation and depression, strikes, and business cycles— affect man's true wealth, if we accept the fact of God's allness. We need to see the dream nature of business sickness just as clearly as that of physical disease. We need to know that both radiant health and abundant wealth are manifested as we realize that the law of infinite Love is operating everywhere. This law of the divine economy can never be reversed, obstructed, or annulled.
It may seem surprising to find the word "economics" used in connection with Love, but harmony and equity can be demonstrated in the business world only in proportion to our understanding and practice of the economics of Love. As the truth of man's inseparable relationship to God is revealed, business conditions are brought under the control of Love, man's divine Principle. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 423), "Both Science and consciousness are now at work in the economy of being according to the law of Mind, which ultimately asserts its absolute supremacy."
The law of God, divine Love, governs the economy of man's being. Consequently, not human economics but Love, Mind, Life, Truth, and Principle have jurisdiction over man and the universe. Thus we see that Love's control of the universal economy is manifested in brotherly kindness; Mind's control in intelligent co-operation; Life's control in uninterrupted, harmonious, right activity; Truth's control in honesty and integrity; Spirit's control in enduring substance; and Principle's control in justice for all. What we need to do, to see the economics of Love operating in our experience, is to recognize that divine Love is the only basis for all the phenomena of existence, and to demonstrate this Love in our everyday experience.
One dictionary definition of economics is "the science that investigates the conditions and laws affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth." Notice how this so-called science, like other material sciences, looks into material effects and from them deduces causes. Mrs. Eddy had a keen perception of this characteristic of physical science. On page 124 of Science and Health, under the marginal heading "Physical science a blind belief," she makes some illuminating statements about the baseless deductions of material science. The conclusion of the paragraph is: "Having neither moral might, spiritual basis, nor holy Principle of its own, this belief mistakes effect for cause and seeks to find life and intelligence in matter, thus limiting Life and holding fast to discord and death. In a word, human belief is a blind conclusion from material reasoning. This is a mortal, finite sense of things, which immortal Spirit silences forever."
The divine economy of the universe, under the control of infinite Spirit, is the exact opposite of mortal mind beliefs about economics. The limiting laws of human economics are not really laws; they are beliefs. In the realm of Spirit, God's law maintains man as the expression of true substance. Thus man's provision is undeviating, uninterrupted, and unrestricted, because it issues from the infinite and eternal source. Perfect God is always manifested in perfectly supplied and continuously active man and universe. Divine Love, the only cause and creator, is all substance, and this All is sufficient for all of Love's creation. Man cannot for an instant fail to receive the riches of Spirit which Love is bestowing, because under no circumstances is man ever separated from his infinite Principle, God. Man and the universe reflect God in unchanging prosperity, unlimited harmony, perpetual good. God's universe has never deviated from perfection. These spiritual facts are the basis of the economics of Love.
Interestingly enough, experts on finance admit that the stock market is a barometer of the thinking of the people. It is important then for us, in order to help stabilize the human economy, to be sure that our thinking accepts the absolute control of man by Love and not by fear, by Spirit and not by matter, by good and not by evil. As we do this, we see that the supply of Godlike thoughts does not ebb and flow, come and go, as in cycles. The so-called law of economics which says that there are cycles of depression and inflation is not based on God's law but on a so-called law of physics which says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. But in Science we know that there is never any action opposed to the activity of Love. We cease to fear that there will be fluctuations in right activity when we realize that Love is all-inclusive, all-powerful, and all-acting. The Apostle John wrote (I John 4:18), "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." And we today know that there is no room for fear because all space is really filled with Love.
A familiar term in the field of economics is "goods." It comes from the word "good," but it has been used for so long to mean material commodities that its basic meaning has been lost sight of. Our fundamental need is not for material goods but for spiritual good, expressed in spiritual qualities, such as grace, gratitude, wisdom, unselfed love, and the like. There is never a variation in the unlimited supply of good, our true substance. As we understand infinite good to be the substance of Mind, and the Life of man, we find that our every need has already been met by our loving Father-Mother God.
Sometimes the limited thinking of mortal mind argues that we have to multiply matter to get supply. But the higher law of Love, Spirit, says that we increase our realization of true supply by dividing, by sharing, by acknowledging, that good is spiritual and abundant, and that our brother's portion is just as satisfying as our own, because Love is infinite and impartial.
Jesus proved this in the feeding of the multitudes. And our Leader refers to this kind of multiplication in Science and Health (p. 206): "In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes,—Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply." The realism of Christian Science makes it clear that man has unlimited supply because man is the reflection of Spirit, the one substance, God. As we understand man's true status as continually blessed of his Father, we shall never feel that we have to deprive ourselves to give to others, nor shall we ever fear that anyone can rob us of our rightful inheritance of good.
Mankind may strive to lift itself up by its bootstraps by being upright and honest. But being upright and honest merely clears the way for allying our thoughts with divine Principle so that we can demonstrate man's continuous unity with God and perceive in ever-increasing measure the unfailing perfection of man's true business, which is to image forth the Life that is God.
For example, it goes without saying that the application of the economics of Love to human business problems requires that spiritual sense rather than corporeal sense guide us. Instead of fearing that greed, selfishness, or the desire for power may be influential, let us know that God is the only cause, and that man, His effect, is upright, honest, and loving. Then we can help to bring out harmonious relationships and avoid strikes or exploitation of employees. The suggestions, "I am poor," "I am without a job," "I lack employees," are from the same lying source which says, "I am sick." To reverse these suggestions, just as in healing sickness, we must see man as he really is, God's idea, never for an instant separated from Love or from any quality of spiritual abundance, right activity, and wisdom's provision. Then we can know that this same truth applies to our brother everywhere.
A young man who was without work at a time of widespread unemployment, and who was very fearful, asked for help in Christian Science to find a job. He was asked to study the spiritual interpretation of the twenty-third Psalm, on page 578 of the Christian Science textbook, in connection with Mrs. Eddy's poem "Feed My Sheep" (Poems, p. 14). Gradually a change took place in his thinking. He became more loving, and was willing to listen for God's guidance. He saw that his real need was the satisfaction of his hunger and thirst for righteousness, and that Love was supplying it, because consciousness of God's presence is forever maintained by spiritual law. He expressed gratitude that unlimited good was already his because, as God's image and likeness, he was always the expression of God's being. The patient, persistent realization of his oneness with God, who supplies all good, and thankfulness for ever-present, right activity and true success, brought the healing. A forgotten kindness which he had once shown towards another was the avenue through which he obtained a satisfactory position.
This experience proved to him how effective in the solving of human problems is the law underlying the economics of Love. The truth about divine economy is the basis of harmony. As we realize the activity of Love, we experience peace in our affairs; as we realize the activity of Truth, we find perfection manifest; as we realize the activity of Life, we experience health; as we realize the activity of Soul, we express joy; as we realize the activity of Spirit, abundance is revealed. The awakening to our true selfhood, forever reflecting divine activity, changes our outlook on Life and makes all our affairs harmonious.
As we understand that man and the universe are divinely controlled in harmony and perfection, the flawless pattern of Love's economy unfolds in our affairs. The operation of divine Principle and the universality of good assure the equality of demand and supply. As we become aware of the establishment of the economic structure of the universe in Principle, we find that production, distribution, and consumption are in perfect balance. Establishing and maintaining these truths for ourselves and for all mankind, we shall effectively aid in bringing to light the scientific fact that the economy of the whole world is fundamentally under the government of infinite Love.
