What Is Your Capital?
Many a person would like to feel that he is working for himself. But to go into business on one's own account usually requires capital. And this is generally thought of in terms of money. Moreover, experience warns that probably more new businesses fail for lack of adequate capital than for any other reason.
Now, what is capital—really?
Businessmen may describe it as involving machinery, land, building, and money for expenses, raw materials, and sales work. Economists analyze it as including natural resources stored in the earth and, in another sense, accumulated labor or the product of labor.
These are natural but mainly material views of what constitutes capital. Yet such terms as "goodwill" and "going value" indicate that there are intangible as well as tangible forms of capital, difficult though they may be to evaluate. Further, the skill of a trained executive or an innovative worker may contribute substantially to the success of a business. Initiative and dependability are distinctly part of one's personal capital, and they contribute also to the productivity of society.
These are examples enough to suggest that there are metaphysical as well as physical ways of looking at what capital is. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health, "Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul." Science and Health, p. 269 ; From this standpoint, the person who supposes himself practically devoid of capital may, in fact, find that he has a great deal to work with.
A human being today has behind him the acquired knowledge of a race that has brought itself from cave-dwelling to modern technology. Acute observers note that ethical standards, added to industriousness and ingenuity, are a factor in this development—that nations or regions where business can be done in a mental climate of fair dealing and trust have a discernible advantage over those where government is lax and justice uncertain.
So it is with the individual. One who is better organized, so to speak, is more effective now than at a time when he felt himself at loose ends. For many a craftsman and businessman, one simple idea has helped him get hold of himself and face the future with confidence. The basic idea of Christianity and of Christian Science is that man is the creation of a loving God who governs the spiritual universe and has a purpose for each of His offspring.
This approach is open to the seemingly most underprivileged, to the man who can only say, "Father, with empty hands, I thank Thee." For in the sight of God and in spiritual actuality, none are empty-handed. All of us have resources of intelligence, honesty, goodwill, compassion, and energy if we draw upon these qualities from their central source, divine Principle or Mind. And such qualities are in demand; hence they attract tangible support from others.
One contemplating a seemingly ambitious project may start with the question the prophet Elisha asked of a woman whose two sons were about to be taken for a debt: "What hast thou in the house?" II Kings 4:2 ; In other words, we may say, what do we, individually or collectively, have in consciousness that can make a beginning toward constructive and useful accomplishment?
In the Biblical story the distraught widow had a pot of olive oil. When told to pour out from it into many vessels, she found she had enough to sell to pay the debt and to meet living expenses.
In the present world a large part of human activity appears to depend on another kind of oil—petroleum, for energy and lubrication. This fossil fuel, buried in the earth for millions of years, is not a product of anybody's conscious labor, though hard and serious work is required to extract and refine it for men's uses.
Somewhat similarly, it takes hard mental work and serious, selfless intent to bring spiritual truth into human understanding, and so make it effective for human good. We then draw upon immeasurable spiritual resources that have existed from before the beginning of time in the universe of God.
These are the reserves Mrs. Eddy advises us to tap: "Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul." Science and Health, p. 60 ;
Viewing capital and apparent needs for capital in this light, individuals or groups who undertake enterprises for the general benefit, whether in industry, commerce, a profession, a trade, social service or religion, can claim the assurance the Apostle Paul gave to the Christians at Philippi, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19 .
These people will then find that the oil of gratitude and inspiration is supplying power, eliminating friction, and putting them into business for themselves and mankind.
