Article January 12, 1924 Issue

True Giving

EUGENE P. COLLINS

True giving has its basis in spiritual understanding. It must, therefore, of necessity be unselfish and loving. To give because we expect by such giving to obtain an increase of good for ourselves, or because we consider it a duty to give something, is surely not what Jesus meant when he said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." While it is true that only through giving unselfishly of our store of good we can gain more of good, it is contrariwise true that giving with the expectation of gaining a reward, merely because of our giving, is seldom, if ever, productive of the desired result. Jesus never lacked the ability to give freely; and he was continually giving,-—giving of his priceless understanding of divine Principle, Love,—healing the sick, reforming the sinner, and supplying the needy.

The present age has been blessed by the great unselfishness of another faithful servant of God,—a gentle woman, Mary Baker Eddy, who, after having gained a vision of the truth taught and practiced by the Master, strove with untiring devotion to give the world her discovery. She wanted mankind to experience the immeasurable goodness of God, which follows the understanding and application of His law; for she realized that she had found God's law, the unchanging truth about all things. Did the world receive her message with open arms? No! scorn and ridicule greeted her. But this did not, could not, deter her. She loved too greatly to be turned aside by shafts of scorn and hatred. Always loving "more for every hate," as she writes in "Mother's Evening Prayer" (Poems, p. 4), she bestowed upon all the utmost charity; and to-day all who will, have, as she tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 271), "the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing." Her splendid example of love and unselfishness is a wonderful inspiration to us.

The rays of the sun do not strive one with another as to which shall hold the more prominent place; they do not shine forth with the expectancy of obtaining glory for themselves. But they brighten every dark and gloomy place they reach, lighting and cheering all they come into contact with. Mind is as the sun to the spiritual universe. Mind necessarily manifests itself through its ideas, as the sun appears to manifest itself through its rays—not spasmodically, but constantly. Divine Mind, Spirit, expresses itself in ever present might, in goodness, wisdom, and abundant supply for every need. To Mind there is no weakness, no evil, either as selfishness, hatred, or lack; even as to the sunshine there is no darkness. To admit this even in theory is a big step out of the dark shadows of material sense. But to make this truth of really practical value, it must be lived in the daily round of affairs. Truth is infinite in value; but its value to the individual is in proportion to his understanding of it, as evidenced by his own application of it. Let us endeavor to realize more fully the infinite value of Truth, overcoming thereby the limited sense of good in all directions, never trying to get the better of a brother, but always trying to give him the same freedom and privileges which we claim for ourselves. If it be that he has not as yet awakened to the fact that God supplies all good for all His children, and that God giveth to each one directly and individually, here is an opportunity for us to overcome evil with good. We can always know that Love will ultimately prove victorious over all evil. Jesus said, "Take up the cross, and follow me;" and, "I say unto you, That ye resist not evil." Never believe in evil as real, as entity, or place, or thing.

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