Beyond Economic Indicators
THE economy is frequently front-page news. Despite all the media coverage, though, economic indicators are not the ultimate determiners of success--business, personal, or otherwise. Good things begin with God. In Him, we can find unlimited and fruitful opportunities for doing well that we'd never find searching all the financial pages of all the newspapers in the world.
God's blessings do not originate in the economy. They originate in Spirit. They come to us in a spiritual form, such as in love, joy, peace, health, wisdom. These are the treasures of God. They benefit us, our family, our businesses, as mere financial gain never can. The pursuit of them should be one of our highest priorities. Joy removes depression, peace resolves conflict, health destroys sickness, and wisdom prevents ignorance. These spiritual qualities are already bestowed on us by our heavenly Father-Mother God.
Looking anywhere but to God for that which promotes genuine success and well-being would be like walking into a dark cave expecting to find sunlight. We'd be hunting forever. Answers needed to overcome economic challenges and make wise financial decisions can be found in a deeper devotion to God. The all-knowing, all-wise, divine Mind--God--comprehends and understands all. We can depend on Mind to lead us intelligently and ably.
Economic data have useful purposes, to be sure, but they should never master us. For example, evidences of shortage can be reversed by a greater awareness of the infinite spiritual resources of divine Mind, God. Christ Jesus said, as Matthew's Gospel records: ''Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened'' (7:7, 8). God may not always seem to be giving us what we think we need. If we've been being careless or foolish in our spending, for instance, more wisdom and economy in the use of our resources--rather than a greater income--may be what we need. In another situation, perhaps more gratitude, less stinginess, and less fear for the future are needed to help us appreciate what we already have. Whatever the required lesson, if we look first to the currency of Mind--to spiritually inspired ideas--we'll find abundance.
At one time, I wanted to change jobs and move to another part of the country. From an economic point of view this decision looked unwise. My income dropped and the housing market was so poor where we lived that we'd suffer a substantial financial loss by selling our home at that time. As I prayed and analyzed my motives for moving, I could see clearly that I would be of greater service to God if I made this career change. I became surer and surer that God would bless our move. I knew that in the long run God would compensate for any financial loss in spiritually glorious ways we had yet to see.
And that was exactly what happened. We lost considerable money on that house sale. But only a year and a half later, we received an unexpected sum that made up the difference. But that was only part of the compensation for our apparent financial ''loss.'' The family is flourishing in our new situation, and I have never been happier in my work!
In her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, ''Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?'' (p. 264) Economic indicators are ''fading, finite forms'' that tell us nothing about our genuine potential for progress. Fixation with them leads us away from God and limits our sense of possibility.
Under the direction of divine Mind, all good is possible. A lively consciousness of God's ever-present love and care keeps us receptive to His unerring wisdom. No gloomy economic prediction can ever prevent good from happening in our lives, because every legitimate need is met by God.
