Sing and rejoice in the super abundance of God’s gifts! Application Ideas for the Bible Lesson on “Substance”

Editor’s Note: The following background information and application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the C.S. Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp. If more information or the text of this Lesson is desired, please see the Director’s Note at the end. The citations referenced in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. These two books are the ordained pastor of Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. Other reference books are fully noted at the end.)

Sing and rejoice in the super abundance of God’s gifts!
Application Ideas on “SUBSTANCE” (Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson for 3/7 -3/13)
by Corde Hanzlik, C.S. (Austin, TX)

(GT) God is giving everything to us.
Do we realize that? It is easy to whine when we think we don’t have enough. The Responsive Reading tells us that we have everything already, but we need to recognize our wealth. Gratitude! A closed hand that doesn’t give is also the hand that doesn’t receive. We can’t be stingy with what we have. God’s super abundance is for all mankind forever. Remember the camp song, ” Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away: love is something if you give it away, you’ll end up having more.”

Section 1 God has it all – for us
As usual God is praised in the first section!  There is a total recognition of His bounty, His Kingdom’s completeness, satisfying all, everywhere! He commands the blessing! (B4) We are blest! We have goods and good. In all areas of our lives – storehouses, land, goods, fruit of body, cattle, ground, good treasure. (B5) Goodness and righteousness, too!

In the Science and health with Key to the Scriptures, we are told that the real sub-stance (under-standing) is Spirit. (S&H 1) Everything we are is by reflection, not collection. So, if God has all, we must too! Simple. (S&H2) Let’s lean! (S&H 5) Big day, big blessings.

Section 2 Think that there are poor folks? Think again.
Lots of folks moan and groan about what they don’t have. Others are quietly resigned to poverty. If we accept any claim of lack, are we helping our brother? (B6) Don’t accept it for the neighbor! (If we accept lack for others, aren’t we accepting it for ourselves subtly?) We help others by understanding their God-given wealth. We, then, may be guided to help in a practical way as a result of prayer. Both neighbor and us are blest as a result.

We can’t lose from helping others. (S&H 6) Giving to the poor (in understanding) is to know real supply. We may well give money, food, clothing, to someone, but it must be in gratitude for God’s superabundant care rather than any sense of pity, sympathy or self-service. We must help others. It is our blest nature as God’s loving idea. (S&H 9) We then can rejoice in our practice. (S&H 10)

Section 3 Who is our treasurer?
Shebna, (B12) a civil servant a royal steward of King Hezekiah, was dismissed as a result of a financial scandal. Eliakim was appointed to take his place. Bad guys don’t win. As the next citation tells us, it is the love of money that is the root of the evil, not the money. (B13) It is right for us to have what we need as we are humble, honest and grateful. God is the treasurer. There is no uncertainty in that foundation. Aren’t the verses 17, 18 and 19 great social security fundamentals?

Let’s not collect moth and rust! The marginal heading on S&H 11 says it all for a ‘bad’ attitude – The doom of sin. In S&H 13, Mrs. Eddy’s sense of humor with the testimony of material sense is wonderfully graphic. One can hear the tone of the testimony. There’s no security for this liar. Spirit, if personified, can be imagined as a smiley, happy face speaking quietly. The I AM doesn’t have to use a loud voice. We know His/Her power.

Section 4 The audio-visual engineer
Jesus was amazing in his wealth of thought. He knew that sound travels further, clearer, better on water than on land. He knew too, that it was an imposition of the fishermen to go back out to fish (at the wrong time of day), but he had a plan of teaching them, in a tangible way, what he preached. His lesson not only helped Simon Peter, but many others. They were hooked, or rather, netted. (Editor’s note: Net prophets, n’est pas?)

So where do we throw our nets? Would you trust Jesus no matter if what he asked you to do were totally inconvenient or sacrificial? Or, when you know that you are right on some issue? S&H 17 reminds us to check our motives. Start with the Father, things workout great! Much better than what we outline. What was the real reason that the fishermen were obedient to Jesus? Love. They just didn’t know it yet. We do know the love incentive. (S&H 18)

Section 5 Too much
In our health issues, the right balance of substance is always important. In the healing story, Jesus takes care of the woman’s issue, which seemed to be out-of-control hemorrhaging. Her issue of blood was stopped not by a physical touch, but a mental awakening. Her faith was finally based on true substance (understanding), the Christ, instead of the physicians. Jesus spoke to her using the term ‘daughter’ to connote the Father’s love for His children. No wonder she could go in peace!

The question presented in S&H 21 is very helpful to us.” Which ought to be substance to us”? It is a great test question when we are challenged by something. Then we’re not fooled by error’s suggestions. Mrs. Eddy tested her Science. She gave us the rules. (S&H 23) What changes? The base – Mind or matter – as a starting place. Mind, of course. S&H 24 is a reminder to recognize spiritual causation. Jesus didn’t ask the woman anything about the history of her problem. Patients don’t need to give ‘excuse’ to a problem when seeking help from a practitioner. Error doesn’t have history since it’s not real, ever.

Section 6 More is not always better!
The attitude of the rich man brought him down. “He wasn’t rich toward God.” Don’t be confused. God didn’t do anything to the man. The man’s own greed and selfishness was his downfall. His wrong affections didn’t get him the right things. He thought that his possessions were the source of his wealth, not God. He needed a new wardrobe – “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” (B21)

Items for barn expansion – patience, meekness, love, good deeds. (S&H25) We all can start with a level playing field by taking away all symbols of so-called success. (S&H 27) It of course ends up that we are all abundantly blest. We recognize our treasures. With a correct base, we find our “enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace.”(S&H 28) That is a bigger barn! It is much easier to walk in the direction that we look than looking around at others or looking behind us. (S&H 29) We don’t have to look very far at all for our happiness when we under (sub) stand (stance) our substance (understanding). Superabundance of good is ever-present! For free!

Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a long series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians.  This document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons as printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.* Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson in the books. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.)