The world is looking to materialism for remedies for the very difficulties that materialism has produced. But can materialism ever solve these difficulties? Christian Science shows that it cannot, and history confirms this. Divine metaphysics holds the answer to every problem: spirituality is the first and the final cure for the troubles of mankind. Materialistic methods turn humanity away from dependence upon God and thus tend to reduce men to low levels of ethics and morality. Spirit, not matter, must be proved to be sufficient to meet human needs of every kind. The understanding of the individual's relation with God must impel human progress out of ignorance and poverty, sickness, sin, and war.
Perhaps this was the lesson Christ Jesus was teaching when he said (John 10:29), "My Father ... is greater than all." The Master took the direct route to salvation from the mortal sense of life by turning to Spirit alone to receive whatever was needed. In God he found the spiritual ideas that transformed the sensualist, destroyed the pains of the flesh, and broke down the limitations imposed by matter and its laws. In these simple words, Jesus explained his metaphysical method and the blessings it brings mankind, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
The temptation is often to believe that waiting for spiritual development to overcome difficulties is too slow a process to be practicable. But this is not true. When purely spiritual methods of caring for mankind's troubles are used, the time element quickly disappears, for matter and time, according to Christian Science, are synonymous. When matter leaves thought as substance or reality, time disappears also. And this is often proved when Christian Science alone is sought for healing and some harassing trouble instantly vanishes.
