"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
In Christian Science we often refer to supply in terms of having a sufficiency of everything we need for our daily living. This may include companionship, friendship, suitable employment, adequate housing and harmony with those we encounter in each area of our lives. More importantly we learn in Christian Science that our prayers and our gradual understanding of the one Mind and the ensuing spiritual progress, provides us with the ideas on how we may realise our supply.
I would like to give two examples of abundant supply, demonstrated in an Old Testament story from the Bible, and from my daily life. The story from II Kings Chapter 4 gives an account of a widow who as the result of debt is faced with the possibility of her two sons being taken as bondmen. This causes her a certain amount of anxiety until the prophet Elisha asks her what she has in the house to offer to repay the debt, and she discovers a small pot of oil. This small amount at first does not seem a viable method of payment. Nevertheless she is instructed to gather as many vessels as she can find so she can pour the oil into them.
What seems to be so significant about this story is that before she starts pouring the oil she is requested to shut the door. This suggests that while this afforded her some privacy, she was excluding the belief of any want or need or debt. However because the oil is multiplied beyond her expectation, she has insufficient vessels to contain it. The story illustrates not only how supply was met abundantly and from an unexpected source but that it was sufficient to sell in order to pay the debt.
In my own life I recently experienced supply from sources I could not have foreseen. A fellow Christian Scientist once remarked to me, “In Science nothing is unexpected,” and this is proved true when we learn about and experience God’s gracious provision to us in countless different ways, and in His time.
The example from my own life does in fact concern money. When an amount of money was given to me from a certain source I was very grateful, but I made the mistake of measuring out the money against certain expenses in connection with the festive season. In fact I was limiting what had been given me. This taught me an important lesson because I was shown that God had a slightly different plan.
At this time a very dear friend was visiting me. We have enjoyed a very special bond over many years and one which I cherish very much. During the course of our time together she informed me that she wanted to me a gift of money. I was slightly overwhelmed, but she had clearly thought about this carefully so I expressed gratitude to her while feeling slightly overawed to have been given so much. This gift blessed me in different ways because my family were planning a celebration, and I was able to assist a family member to travel from the other side of the world to England to attend this celebration, so my entire family was blessed immeasurably.
On reflection, apart from my gratitude, I am learning how in Christian Science, we cannot foresee how God’s provision for us, His children, will be manifested. In thinking back to the widow in the Old Testament story, and how her supply exceeded her need, and how in a similar way mine did the same, I love referring to Mrs Eddy’s interpretation of oil in the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:
Oil- Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.