Always Needed

MATERIALISM often presents supply and demand as out of balance. High demand results in stocks being depleted; then prices rise, and shortages occur. Or a low demand can result in a glut of some particular product, which may then be wasted or spoiled. But as we discern more of spiritual reality--see that all good has its source in God--we realize that supply and demand must always be in balance.At one point Paul explained in a letter to the Corinthians the importance of contributing willingly to the church. And he added: "I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality. Many of us find it easy to see that a demand for something leads to increased production or other efforts to supply what is needed. But what about the times when there's no demand? For instance, perhaps we have felt that our talents were being wasted or that too many people have abilities "just like ours. And what about the "great idea that nobody is interested in? Or the customers who don't buy? It's easy to conclude in such cases that we have a supply of something for which there is no demand. But can a genuinely good idea or a truly useful skill be unwanted? The Bible encourages us to turn to God for guidance. Indeed, Christ Jesus proved that God is the source of all good when he fed five thousand people with only a small amount of food. If we seem to be lacking something, whether demand or supply, we can turn to God and understand more of His goodness. In fact, God Himself is the source of our true talents and right ideas. They are built into our nature as His spiritual offspring and we express them freely. Doesn't this hint, then, at the way to find an outlet for our abilities? Can't we turn to God for a solution if we seem to have an excess of something, as well as when there seems to be a lack? Seen in spiritual terms, supply and demand must be equal. This equality is cogently illustrated in the story, found in II Kings, of the widow whose two sons were to be taken into bondage by creditors. Following the prophet Elisha's directions, the woman and her two sons borrowed containers from neighbors and filled them from the small "pot of oil that was all she had. Despite material appearances, the oil was sufficient to fill all the available containers. When she went back to Elisha for further in structions, he told her, "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. One thing that strikes me in this account is that there is no doubt that there would be a market for the oil. It was natural for oil to be considered useful. And even her sudden abundance of oil to sell wouldn't come close to "glutting the market for something so obviously desirable. Similarly, when we understand that whatever is good has its source in God, we can be assured that what we have to offer is useful and desirable. We can expect there to be a demand for our "oil. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, describes oil as "consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration. These are certainly desirable qualities that we eagerly accept in our own lives and can express in our work. Now, what about those spiritual ideas we entertain? Since they are actually part of the spiritual equilibrium of supply and demand--and express the abundance of good that supplies another's need--we can expect to find a way to use them. Prayerfully understanding that God gives to all abundantly will show us how best to use our supply--our talents and abilities--so that "there may be equality."