The state of the local, national, or world economy need not affect us adversely if we are spiritually minding our own economy. We live abundantly as we gain the Christly understanding of God as our Life, unrestricted, infinite. Our resources, when spiritually discerned as attributes of eternal Life, are unfailing.
Man, manifesting this Life, expresses abundance as well as intelligence, integrity, and health. Total employment is the mandate for omniactive Mind's active image.
For an encouraging example we can look to the best practicing economist who ever lived, Christ Jesus. Employment was as natural as breathing to Jesus, and he apparently never lacked for the human necessities of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, even tax money. His awareness that he was never alone but always with the Father attracted disciples and friends. He had a gift with words, and with silence. He maintained unhurried activity on a schedule loose enough to allow for prayer and for the unexpected. He was alert and purposeful, never losing anything, even time, but rather helping others gain a correct sense of health, identity, security, and spiritual understanding. Jesus promised all who followed him, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."John 10:10;
What if statistics or experience deny full employment and a stable economy? Should we wallow in scarcity, disorder, frustration, and inability to cope? We don't cry when the sun goes down, because we know it's possible to rise high enough to see the sun twenty-four hours a day. Similarly, as we rise higher spiritually, we feel gratitude for Life and for Life's very existence. We can show lovingkindness and bigheartedness, excellence and order, in whatever task we find to perform for others. Thus we oil the wheels of our own and, in some small measure, the world's economy! Didn't Jesus prove that a little grace goes a long way toward relieving lack?
The economy practiced by Jesus in the feeding of the multitude was first and last a gracious acceptance of God's goodness, along with gratitude and a wise sense of order.See Matt. 14:15-21; This approach brought home the lesson of Love's abundant provision for all. The activity of Love is not static or halting; it is continuous. Jesus, often thronged by seekers of Truth and healing, worked with his Father—our Father. The Master was buoyant, considerate, expectant of good, proving that every legitimate demand is met by God.
A New England family I knew were renowned for their hospitality. While they were building a service-oriented business, however, they had little spendable income, and their natural inclination to be generously hospitable had to be tempered. I remember the glass of cold spring water on a hot day, offered as if it had been a feast. Since then their business has prospered, and the scope of their hospitality has increased, expressing, as always, the spirit of love in action.
That the activity of Love is never interrupted was proved to me one day when I was deep in research. The time arrived for me to take my mother to our local Christian Science Reading Room, where she was to serve as librarian. I had to drop my work. Yet I knew that I was never distracted from my true employment but always about my Father's business if I was following our Master. I knew that my business is to demonstrate grace and expectancy of good.
As we drove down the street, my mother happened to quote a verse I instantly recognized as the perfect missing link in my research. In a small way I had proved that progress is uninterrupted and that achievement can be unlaborious.
The divine economy knows no stoppage, no ups and downs. God is forever. Then man, God's own expression, is always actively connected with the one Mind, Spirit—with infinite resourcefulness. Thus man—the spiritual, complete man—cannot fail to reflect the resourceful activity of his creator.
Beginnings and endings of our resources, highs and lows, like the supposed limit of Jesus' supply in the wilderness to five loaves and two fishes, are illusions of finiteness. Blind faith in human leadership and material means is liable to upsets. The spiritual idea of progress is needed to lift us out of material hopes and desires into the pure fulfillment of God's kingdom.
Our progress or lack of it is found in our own hearts. Are we doubting and fearing? Are we harboring resentment or self-pity? Wholehearted love for God and man promotes valued accomplishment, sound relationships, and dependable livelihood. Our economy reflects our right thinking, our response to divine activity in thought and act, and it can be an expression of unfluctuating joy. "Always bear in mind," Mrs. Eddy writes, "that His presence, power, and peace meet all human needs and reflect all bliss."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 263.
Employing our thoughts as Jesus employed his can result in a joy that nothing can diminish; indeed, there will always remain "baskets full." All that our Father has is ours. We are all His, living and moving in harmonious oneness with Him. We all have one Father—one Mind, one Life, Love— who is Principle. The oneness with God that Jesus expressed includes confidence in omnipresent Love. This spiritually established confidence knows no gloom, no injustice, no exhaustion: only completeness.
Are we conscious now of divine Love's infinite efficacy?
