Editorial May 1, 1909 Issue

HAVING AND GIVING

John B. Willis

The world's greatest story-book has few tales that are more touching and instructive than that of the widow of Zarephath, whose "fiery trial" and obedient faith were made known to the Christian ages as the result of a prophet's plea for a bit of bread.

The famine had brought the weak and decrepit to such extremity that but for its wearisomeness death seemed not uninviting, and for this event the poor woman was calmly preparing when the man of God appeared upon the scene and assured her that her own supply would not fail if she would but give him a part of her remaining morsel. The readiness with which she believed and acted upon his word, regardless of the wailing of her famished child,—this tells of a faith which had surely reached the threshold of spiritual understanding. No doubt she had been thinking, as have most of us all our lives, that though with much labor good things may be gotten, their possession is a matter of such uncertain tenure that it is ever attended by care and anxiety. Human thought has come to entertain the belief that it is even more difficult to keep coveted things than to gain them, and the consequent fear of loss is ever present to mar human joy in having and, so far as it can, to stay generous impulse in giving, until, like the Preacher of old, many a man who has gotten "much goods" has been led to say with heaviness of heart, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."

The way in which Elijah spoke to this needy woman makes it apparent that he had a sense of possession which was in marked contrast with this still prevailing human thought. He had come to understand one of the fundamental and revolutionary teachings of Christian Science, namely, that all true wealth is in consciousness, and hence that no real possession can be lost; it can neither be taken from us nor can we give it away. Though we share it with all the needy, our cruse will not fail, our store will not be lessened. The bread and the oil still serve as the common symbols of the supply of common needs, but an uncommon realization of spiritual reality has given us that new and true sense of both having and giving which made the prophet's ministry so genuine and so adequate.

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