On Getting Something for Nothing

George Shaw Cook

The prevalent tendency to indulge the "gambling instinct," inherent in the human mind, raises the question with thoughtful people, "What is the basis of this propensity?" Careful analysis of the underlying motive for gambling of all kinds reveals the fact that this proclivity is based upon the erroneous belief that something can be had for nothing. Games of chance, especially when played for stakes, find their inception in this mistaken belief. This includes, of course, the various phases of speculation undertaken in the hope of gain without due investment or honest effort.

That the belief of getting something for nothing is as fallacious as it is widespread must have been recognized by the poet Lowell, who wrote, "Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us."

However, Lowell must have discerned that, in reality, as Jesus said, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," for he ends this verse, in "The Vision of Sir Launfal," with these words:

'T is heaven alone that is given away,
'T is only God may be had for the asking.

It is found in human experience that the thought of recompense or reward without effort is anomalous. The farmer does not reap without first having sown, nor without meanwhile having patiently cultivated his crops. The laborer, artisan, and clerk do not, in most instances, receive wages without having first earned them. Workers in professional or artistic lines do not receive monetary or other recompense without first rendering service. And so throughout the whole gamut of human experience we find operating the law of compensation, upon which Jesus doubtless based his statement, "The labourer is worthy of his hire."

Thus it is seen that recompense is the result of honest endeavor, which in most instances, at least, precedes the receipt of reward therefor. However, this does not apply to absolute reality—to the Science of real being—for spiritual man does not have to "till the ground," and is under no compulsion to earn bread "in the sweat of [his] face." That condemnation or penalty has to do only with mortals. And Mary Baker Eddy has written in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 517, 518): "Man is not made to till the soil. His birthright is dominion, not subjection. He is lord of the belief in earth and heaven,—himself subordinate alone to his Maker. This is the Science of being." Therefore in the realm of divine reality man is eternally and abundantly provided for by his creator, omnipotent and omniscient Mind, God, who, according to the first chapter of Genesis, said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion."

Recognition of the fact that in the Science of being man is fully provided for without effort on his part, and that it is the purpose and will of God—the only creator—to sustain His own creation, does not relieve us, in human experience, of the necessity for righteous effort. The prophet has said, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Righteousness, or right knowing, therefore, enables one to work not only with freedom and facility, but with quiet assurance of reward.

There is nothing in Biblical teaching or in our Leader's interpretation thereof to encourage laziness, apathy, selfease, or unwillingness to work. She has said (Message to The Mother Church for 1900, p. 2), "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work—work—work—watch and pray.'" And it is well to remember that in this passage she couples the words "work" and "song." Therefore, students of Christian Science should pursue their avocation, whatever its nature may be, with a song in their hearts.

It will be seen from the foregoing that Christian Science, while countenancing wholesome recreation in games of skill, does not approve games of chance, whether played for amusement or with the hope of gain, and does not countenance gambling, either as a pastime or as an occupation. Obviously, a teaching based upon the understanding of absolute, invariable Principle does not sanction indulgence of the belief in chance or luck. From the standpoint of absolute Principle these conditions of human belief—luck and chance—do not exist. They have no place in a universe governed by infallible, divine intelligence through spiritual law. On page 424 of Science and Health our Leader has written, "We must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony."

George Shaw Cook

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