Article November 23, 1946 Issue

What Is Your Portion?

JAMES HEARNDEN

Mankind is never quite free from problems arising from the unequal distribution of the world's resources and goods. The growing desire and endeavor of men and women to secure equal participation and remuneration, equal privileges and responsibilities in human affairs are supported by all unselfish and spiritually-minded thinkers. But they recognize that the adoption of a system which attempts arbitrarily to transfer material possessions and goods from one person to another or from one nation to another will not of itself assure lasting equality of distribution and balance of material power, peace, or happiness. Any material method merely amounts to an attempt to bring about parity based on the unprincipled thinking of the human mind, which is already responsible for the difficulties in human affairs. The cause of discord can never serve as the medium for restoring harmony.

Until mankind understands that what men are rightly entitled to cannot be determined by materially mental judgments, the ills of inequality will continue to irritate, intimidate, and arouse distrust and suspicion. Satisfying and abiding equity is not to be secured merely by dispersal or accumulation of material possessions, but by the understanding of divine Principle, God, and the ever present operation of His law of impartial justice for all men.

That the problem of inequality claimed attention in the days of Ezekiel is evidenced by these words (18:25): "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?" Herein is given not only the reason for any disparity in the lot of men, but also the key to the solution of the problem. It is to denounce the ways of mortal thinking and adhere to the ways of Principle, God, from whom man derives all that is really his. Inequality is the offspring of the belief of many governing minds with conflicting interests, and of many personal gods, some of which are greed, false ambition, material wealth. From such delusions emerge suggestions of hatred, envy, jealousy, dishonesty, worry, and fear. To indulge these suggestions is to forfeit the unlimited and equal opportunities all men have to cultivate moral and spiritual virtues, which are ever available without measure or partiality.

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