God's law of abundance

Britain, like many other countries, did well in Beijing, and that success brought much joy to its citizens. It's a welcome change from the gloomy headlines about the economic recession that's reported to be affecting the UK. As the Olympic team returned home, they brought a spirit of hope; their individual efforts and teamwork also proved that unity and persistence are important to achieving success.

Such efforts bring to mind this statement in the Bible's book of Joshua: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (1:7, 8).

The original Hebrew word rendered "prosperous" is tsaleach, meaning to prosper, to be profitable, to be prosperous. It goes beyond financial riches to health, happiness, and all things concerning our identity as children of a loving God.

A God who is omnipresent good can bestow only true riches and prosperity on His creation. There is nothing poor, limited, or lacking in God, or He could not be omnipotent. As God's sons and daughters, we have a right to claim abundance as our birthright.

Both the Old and the New Testament record outstanding proof of God's readiness to supply what is needed, even in times of lack. One such example is that of Elijah at the home of a widow who lived in Zarephath. The woman told Elijah that she barely had enough flour and oil to make something to feed herself and her son. She expected that after they had eaten, the two of them would face starvation and die.

The prophet then made a surprising request: to bake a cake and give the first of it to him, after which she and the child could eat. Despite her poverty, the woman obeyed this unlikely instruction. The story continues with the woman, her son, and her household having enough and plenty to live on afterward. It seems that Elijah's request and the woman's response transformed her situation (see I Kings 17:8-16).

Centuries later, Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science, wrote this about divine care: "Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation" ("Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," p. 332). We can identify ourselves as being at one with the Father-Mother God who bestows upon His-Her children all good. We cannot lack anything through this law of spiritual reflection. Instead we have abundant life, health, happiness, supply – divine substance. God is ever saying to us all that we are always with Him and all that He has is ours through His omnipresent care and love for us. Divine Love cannot produce poverty, depressions, recessions, or lack.

The only will of God for us is good, even the will that we should always have everything we need, at all times, wherever we may be. Accepting this fact enables us to naturally reject believing that we lack substance or that God's laws can lead to times of need, whether they are called recessions or depressions. Nor does the good He gives depreciate.

The Apostle Paul described God as "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20). This is a promise that we can expect to have not just a minimal supply for our needs but the infinite abundance of God's provision for all of us.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you;
that ye, always having
all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work. II Corinthians 9:8