"Give and it shall be
given unto you,
good measure running over.
Luke 6:38.
UNDERSTANDING reduces the greatest to simplicity, and
lack of it causes the least to take on the magnitude of
complexity. In order to make Christianity practical, we
must understand Christianity and obey the law on which
it is founded. The teaching of Christ shows the way back
from wrong results of selfish living to the love,
intelligence and power of God. By a man's words, deeds
and actions, he reveals whether he has as yet found the
way. God exists in man as man's highest concept of
perfection, and comes forth through man's faith and
works as a redeeming love, intelligence, and power.
He who
seeks the Father, with "getting" as his objective, does
not seek Him in trueness of spirit. To the extent and so
long as any material object remains between the mind of
the seeker and the Law of God the two are held apart and
do not become one. In the same degree that a man holds
to personal opinion and desire, he is limited in knowing
the mind of God in its entirety.
In a state of
limited understanding, we reason that we must get before
we can give, and then we turn and walk in the same
mental rut as before by reasoning that we must give
before we can get; but in our lack of understanding, we
continue to leave the "getting" idea foremost in our
thought and we shut out the spirit of giving.
TOP
Giving, which is
the first or fundamental law of life, is the first law
of all creation. The attitude of getting is the law of
life in a congested state, or in repressed action. As
long as "getting" dominates a mind, that mind is in a
paralyzed condition, being limited in its action in
accord with the fundamental law of creation.
The radio
has aided greatly in explaining the process of the law
of giving and receiving, or prayer and blessing. The
principles involved are very similar. In fact, they are
the same, except that one is mechanical and the other
mental. When the operator projects a program, he stirs
up a vibration in the air that goes forth to accomplish
what it will. He has nothing more to do with it after it
has been projected. The ether, or the air, carries the
vibrations to any station that is capable of receiving
and reproducing it.
When we
pray, we in turn stir up a vibration with our desires.
This, also, is received by a force determined according
to the power, the purpose, and the sincerity of our
prayer. Often when pray we think that all that is
necessary is to keep on praying, with the result that we
never adjust ourselves to become receptive to receive
our answers, and so complain when we do not get them
promptly.
A dreamer
or a wisher is one who is continually praying, sending
out his ideas, his desires, and is so busy dreaming that
he gets all his enjoyment out of his dreams. He doesn't
know or realize that to release his dream and allow it
to go forth to accomplish what it will, will in time
return to him for good. After you form a definite clear
outline of your desire, then release your thought God
ward let it go like throwing a ball out with no string
or rubber attached to bring it back to you. TOP
"Man's
extremity is God's opportunity" is true, for when man
reaches his limit, he hopelessly stops his efforts. When
he relaxes from his strain, the Law has a chance to
reply to his desires, and things begin to change for
him. Have you not seen this work in trivial things, such
as books or clothing or invitations or a desire to see a
certain friend? Possibly at some time you sent out a
thought or a desire and then forgot completely about it.
The next thing you know, you had that book presented to
you; you received the invitation; or you were walking
down the street and bumped right into the friend you so
desired to meet. Yet, somehow when it comes to more
important things, to larger things, we fail to release
our desires and prayers as readily, and anxiety and
tension holds everything fast. Nothing worthwhile is
accomplished. The mind is like a sponge. We squeeze it
hard with our anxious thoughts, but not until we can
release the pressure and allow the sponge to take its
normal shape can it become absorbent and receptive
again.
Once we have
expressed our needs through prayer or otherwise, some
believe that is all we must do. On the contrary, we are
working with a law that is definite and active, and this
is only the beginning of our work. The principle of life
upon which this Law is based is clearly written. It
reads, "Give and it shall be given unto you, good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over."
Giving always precedes and predetermines the reception,
whether you are giving your thought, your word, your
service, or your deed.
Some folks may
consider this Law as a two way law; that is, half the
time you should be busy giving and the other half of
your time you should be receiving. It is like the
proposition of heat and cold; they are two sides to the
same law. That is, if we concentrate upon cold and hope
and pray to get heat, we are likely to freeze to death.
What we must do is to give all our thought and effort
toward building a fire or seeking that which will create
heat to warm us. If we concentrate upon receiving, not
giving any thought or idea or desire to build upon, we,
in like manner, may perish.
TOP
The Law says, "It
is more blessed to give than to receive" and "as you
freely give, you freely receive." Unless we are free to
extend or give out our desire, our good, the Law will
not have any pattern to work with. It cannot proceed to
supply any need without a pattern. Many try to work the
Law backwards, and for that reason get little or no
results. They say to themselves, "Well, after I get,
then I will give." If you wish any good thing, you must
first give some good to build upon.
A young
man gives his girl friend a gift, a paste diamond. Later
when he got into financial difficulties, his friend,
most anxious to help him to tide over, wrote a kindly
note and wished him every success in meeting his
obligations. She enclosed the gift he had given her and
suggested that he sell it to satisfy his need. The young
man was sorry then that he had not given his friend a
diamond of real worth. He got back at a time when he
needed help most, that which he had given out, an
imitation instead of the genuine.
When we
speak of giving, most people have a tendency to think
first of giving their money. Money, an object of human
affections so passionate that men will slay and steal to
gain its possession, is by nature so obedient to our
will that we can hold it gently in our hand or fold it
fondly in our purse without feeling any resistance from
its nature. With all the selfish getting ideas which man
attaches to it, man has not changed its nature or its
purpose. What does money get out of constantly giving
itself into hands that so eagerly grasp it? Nothing.
Nothing beyond the joy of giving itself in the
fulfillment of its mission. Man may do some terrible
deed to obtain it; he may pay it for something
detrimental to his progress; but in all these exchanges
man, not money, loses value. Just as the sun shines on
the just and the unjust alike, so money passes through
the deserving and undeserving hand to accomplish its
work. Its purpose is exchange without discrimination.
Leaving the latter to the mind that 15 using it, money
goes merrily on its way, losing nothing in self value,
in giving itself. TOP
Money came into
form to fill the need for exchange and on that purpose
it is "all intent." Let our attitude toward it be what
it may, money will remain true to its nature as long as
it is needed by its master, Man. If we fail to pay full
value in an exchange, we fail to understand the
prospering Law back of the idea. Money represents the
law of services; its value is the estimation of worth
placed upon it by the mind of man, while its form is
designed to insure the easiest exchange. When we give
our best in some useful service, forgetful of self,
concentrating on the joy of giving instead of
concentrating on the returns, we find that our purpose
and the purpose of money have blended and we come
together in righteousness and eternal good.
So often I hear
people say, "Well, I do give, and sometimes until it
hurts, but I seldom see any sign of a return." There is
a right way and a wrong way to give. There is a
careless, impulsive giving and there is a careful,
scientific giving. When we give to a person or group of
persons where we are retarding progress, we are wasting
our substance. Where we give to one who doesn't put
forth the effort to help himself, we need not expect a
good return.
Nature
does not support a parasite or a loafer, but she gives
her energy to the ones who are struggling forward. She
lets the parasite and the loafer see that she will help
if they put forth the effort to help themselves. But
with us, if we support a loafer in what he is in, how
can we expect any good returns? Rather the loafer
becomes arrogant and demanding for more and more relief,
until we wonder where and when it will end. TOP
A woman
once gave her daughter, when she married, a home fully
furnished, and set the son in law in a good business.
The business from year to year was always needing more
funds to carry it over, and she continued giving her
money to him until it was almost exhausted. When she had
gotten down to a small income and living in one room,
she wanted to know why she was not blessed for her
generosity. She gave as she thought best, but it paid in
losses and bitter words. The son in law demanded more
help until she had no more to give, then she was
unwelcome in their home and invited to leave. Her
mistake was in her judgment. She was as much at fault as
the dependent son, for she was part of the cause of his
failure. I directed her to stay away from the young
couple and let them sink or swim by themselves. I was
sure they would find themselves. She followed my advice,
and within a year the young man had put his business on
a paying basis. For the first time it was operating at a
profit. The home life was restored to a normal state,
and all were happier because their efforts were being
directed into right channels. The young man was proud of
his efforts that enabled him to make good on his own
merit. A practical interpretation of the Law is, when
you see someone making an effort to help himself, that
is the time to assist him, but do not give of your
substance to the one who will not help himself, or at
least try. The latter type will not only misuse your
gift, but will abuse you if and when you cease giving.
Jesus
gave his substance always where it would do the most
good. He fed the multitude because they were seeking
good, not because they were begging food. Nowhere do we
find Him giving as much as a thought to anyone except
those who desired to improve and grow. He cautioned
others about unwise giving, "Do not throw your pearls
before swine lest they trample them under their feet and
turn and rend you." He meant simply, do not give your
substance to anyone cannot appreciate it or improve with
it. It is as foolish as giving a child a loaded gun and
expecting him to realize the danger as you do. Sooner or
later the child through lack of appreciation will either
hurt some one or get hurt, to the sorrow of all
concerned. You cannot build something on nothing and
expect something in return. If, in your giving, there is
no principle of good in some measure, no matter how
small, to add to, then you are casting your pearls away.
You are wasting your substance. TOP
Many have found
tithing a successful form of giving, but the questioning
mind wonders. Why would tithing be more potent than any
other form of giving? It is more potent because you
touch the Law of Giving and Receiving in a definite,
orderly, or systematic way of giving. You establish a
methodical plan of giving which creates a steady flow of
reciprocal good to be received. When one's method of
giving is sporadic or occasional, one '5 reception of
good is irregular and uncertain. Scientists analyze it;
they say that tithing gives man a self reliance, a
confidence which enables him to build up a positive
mental attitude which attracts success. Others say that
a tither already has considerable confidence to take the
chance to spend his money that way. This makes him a
positive type and attracts only positive and goodly
conditions. Then there are others who take a spiritual
view toward tithing and assume that God is their partner
and they are paying only one tenth of their receipts as
His share. Then, too, some make the mistake in tithing
when they give for selfish gain or when they make a
bargain of it. Remember, it is not the money you give;
it is the idea back of the giving that is so vital. If
you give money and the idea is wholly one of bargaining,
your mind is not free; therefore, your results cannot be
free and full flowing. Tithing, no matter what one may
think about it, if one thinks at all, has a tendency to
bring man into line with the Law of Giving and his
results will be in proportion to the honesty, sincerity,
and spirit of his gift.
Jesus
praised and blessed the widow who gave her all, her
mite, into the church coffer, but criticized the rich
man offering his bags of gold. Why do you suppose He
took exception in this case to praise the lowly gift of
the widow? He knew the Law of Giving was in action; it
was the spirit of her gift that prompted His blessing.
When John D. Rockefeller was a poor boy he was able to
apply the Law early in his life. When he earned his
first money, he kept a record of his giving and his
receiving, and he kept a ledger all through life. It is
known that he gave away more than one half billion
dollars. Possibly we can judge why he received so much
to give.
But after
we give, that is not all we must do. Our next step is to
prepare to receive the response or results of our giving
and to receive, as the Law state, good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over. This is the
most interesting part, because our preparation shows our
active faith. Instead of rocking and waiting, we are
preparing and working. This, in turn, enlarges our view.
It stimulates our interest, it disperses our doubt and
fear, and energizes our power of reception. This was
clearly illustrated by Elijah, the Prophet, when the
three kings came to him and asked him to pray for them
that they would be victorious in battle, and that they
might have rain to supply their soldiers and animals.
Elijah told the kings to go back to their camps and
prepare for the morrow; prepare to receive the water
they asked for by digging ditches. Now, if you have ever
been on the desert, you will know that it was a most
foolish idea to dig ditches in the sand and expect rain
to fall, but the kings did as they were told. They
prepared for the rain by digging the ditches, and clouds
gathered, and rain fell, and the ditches were filled.
The men and their beasts were satisfied; their thirst
was quenched; and going into battle strengthened, they
were victorious. Elijah, knowing the Law, instructed
them to prepare and made the way easy for them to
receive.
The key
to the Law then is: we are continually drawing into
life what we give and expect. Whether we attract
good or bad, it is governed by this same principle. You
have probably made the remark, "Oh, yes, it is just as I
expected," and especially when some unpleasant condition
or circumstance arose. You invited the condition just
because you gave out the thought of expecting it. You
can also expect good to appear on the same principle and
you can help it to come to pass by the method of your
preparation. Many failures in demonstrations are because
we do not force our expectations to keep apace with our
desires. Very often we desire one thing and expect in
our hearts another, which creates confusion. The Master
said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
When a mind is confused, there is no cooperation, nor is
there united force to attract the strength it requires.
Positive mental radiations will drive away all clouds of
doubt and fear with confident expectation that all
things will work all right. You operate a law that can
and will put matters right. There is a power within,
greater by far than any difficulty that you can ever
meet; that power will never fail to see you through.
"You may
ask. "Can I desire things not ready for me to have?" Can
I ask too much of the Law? Does the Law withhold things
from me which are not for my good? True desire
represents the urge of life, seeking a fuller
expression, and is kept alive by continuous expectation
of its fulfillment. It brings to us ways and means for
its manifestations. The principle explains, "No desire
is felt until the supply is ready to appear." No mind
can be conscious of a need or of a desire unless the
possibility of its fulfillment exists. Your prayer, your
desire, and your inner urge are like a magnet and the
stronger they are, the stronger the power of your magnet
and the greater its attraction. You cannot ask too much
of the Law, for it is unlimited and the supply is
inexhaustible. You can get only what you can conceive,
what you can understand. You can get only the equivalent
to what you give. The Law does not withhold any more
than mathematics withholds its numbers. You may receive
some things that appear not good, but yet good may come
through them like mistakes in mathematics. Whereas, you
make many mistakes, the mistakes enable you by their
correction, to better know the Law. After you have made
one or several corrections, you will never again repeat
the same mistake, so in that way the Law has served you
well and has supplied you with a greater knowledge.
TOP
"The Lord
loveth a cheerful giver"; the Law serveth a free and
willing giver. Whatever you give, give it with a free
and willing spirit. Give it out with no obligations or
dictations attached, then it will come back to you
unburdened with obligations or restrictions of any form.
He who
gives much receives much. To give your best is to
receive the best in ratio to the degree of your giving.
The reason why so many people receive little is because
they give out so little. They are poverty stricken
because they refuse to give. Whatever the nature of your
p05sessions, give and give abundantly. You are to give
of your life, interest, energy, thought, ability, love,
appreciation, and helpfulness. In giving of your life,
thought and love, in doing gladly and well whatever you
may be called upon to do, you express your best, and the
more you give the more you receive. This does not mean
that you are to give to the selfish and thoughtless, but
to so order your life as to make a full and proper use
of your energies, faculties, and talents in useful
living. If today your abilities are small and your
powers insignificant, begin now to make a more thorough
use of them and they will grow.
Recall
the story of the Master and his servants to whom he gave
each a talent, some two, some three and others more, and
from whom he expected a harvest according to their
respective endowments. There was greater joy in Heaven
over him who had but one talent and used it well than
over him who had many talents but failed to employ them
in useful service. Hence the servant with one talent
took the higher place. In other words, the individual
who makes full use of what he has shall be blessed with
more and more, for "In what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured unto thee again. ' That is the path of
increase. That is the secret of the Law of Receiving.
TOP
If the
business world accepts the giving of service as the
basis of success and progress, can we not accept the
same truth in our business of living life? This is not a
religious plea; this is good logic, or plain common
sense, for if the Law works in one department it surely
will work in every department wherever we choose to
apply it.
Whatever
you desire in the way of health, success, happiness,
riches, or power, start toward it, start it on its way
by this procedure. The Law works. The results are sure
because a natural principle is involved; you may proceed
without doubt or fear to desire and to expect
all the good you can realize, use, and enjoy. When
the mind of man becomes unselfish to the point of
yielding to the Law, man has been born anew; for his
attitude toward the Law, himself, and his fellowmen has
changed, and his affairs take on the character of his
newness of thought.
GIVING
To get he had tried, yet his
store was still meager.
To a wise man he cried, in a voice keen and
eager;
"Pray tell me
how I may successfully live?"
And the wise man replied, "To get you must
give."
As to giving
he said, "What have I to give?"
I've scarce enough bread, and of course one
must live;
But I would
partake of Life's bountiful store.
Came the wise man's response; "Then you must
give more."
The lesson he
learned: to get was forgotten,
Toward mankind he turned with a love new
begotten.
As he gave of
himself in unselfish living,
Then joy crowned his days, for he grew rich in
giving.
