The author of the book of Proverbs showed the depth of his wisdom when, recognizing how busy mortals are in their efforts to get, he said, "With all thy getting get understanding" (Prov. 4:7). Each advancing era of human history records the insatiable hunger and unquenchable desire of men to know and to understand. In many lands the facilities for human education are taxed to the utmost. Yet only a small segment of the human family has yet gained even the rudiments of a meager education in human knowledge. How much greater is the need for an understanding knowledge of the cause of all that really is! The world's gaunt want was sensed by Cecil Rhodes, who said, "So little done—so much to do."
Ask an alert student of Christian Science what of all things he most desires and his reply will be "more spiritual understanding." He has gained, through his study of the Bible and the works of Mary Baker Eddy, enough knowledge of spiritual truth to know that far more precious than material possessions, human success, or transient worldly satisfaction is an understanding of God, man, and the basic laws of being.
The student may at first feel that understanding is something more or less apart from himself. Men are educated to believe that they are somewhat apart from God. Since God is Mind, they believe they are separated or apart from Mind and the understanding or enlightenment which Mind is always causing in its expression, man. It is inevitable that man, the image of deific Mind, be perpetually endowed with the understanding that is Mind's primal attribute.
