Article August 12, 1944 Issue

"Giving does not impoverish"

DOROTHY M. GIBSON

In that well-loved book, "The Greatest Thing in the World," Henry Drummond writes: "The most obvious lesson in Christ's teaching is that there is no happiness in having and getting anything, but only in giving.... Half the world is on the wrong scent in pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting, and in being served by others. It consists in giving, and in serving others." Elsewhere in the same book the author writes: "'The greatest thing,' says some one, 'a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children.' I wonder why it is that we are not all kinder than we are? How much the world needs it! How easily it is done! How instantaneously it acts!... How superabundantly it pays itself back —for there is no debtor in the world so honorable, so superbly honorable, as Love."

Few people will deny that giving is a pleasurable activity. It sends a glow of satisfaction through the consciousness of even the most materialistic giver. But much of the world's giving is selfish. There may be a willingness to give to others in need, as long as there is certain to be enough left for ourselves. "Charity begins at home," says one with a well-filled larder. "We must be sure of sufficient for ourselves before we become too sympathetic with outsiders." Yes, it is true that charity begins at home, just as the warmth of the sunshine begins in the sun, but it does not remain there.

The gentle-hearted Leader of the Christian Science organization compares the unrestricted action of divine Love to the sunshine when she writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 516), "The sunlight glints from the church-dome, glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth." And the sunlight is not less warm because of such giving.

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