THE First Commandment (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," can be of primary importance to the businessman. When he realizes that the "me" is God, and that the "thou" is himself, he will discover that God has given him a fundamental law, a specific rule, and that it is the basis of sound policy, a code to govern business conduct. And he will learn that progress and prosperity come to him in the measure that he obeys this divine law. "For man to be thoroughly subordinated to this commandment, God must be intelligently considered and understood," Mrs. Eddy declares in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 5). Christian Science furnishes this understanding of God. It reveals Him as the divine Principle, governing all. It unfolds the scientific relationship between God and man, made in His likeness.
God is Mind, imparting to man wisdom and intelligence; He is Spirit, Life, bestowing energy, ability, and activity; He is Truth, Love, supplying integrity, accuracy, and inspiration. These qualities of God, individually expressed by men, are essential to good business.
Yet in the press and rush, the hurly-burly, of commerce other gods seem to exercise power over business. Although they appear in many forms, these gods, stripped of their trappings, are merely beliefs in matter, evil, and mortal mind. Material conditions claim to cause good or bad business. Evil suggests that it is a factor in business and has more power than good. Mortal mind insists that it controls business through many human minds in conflict.
