Article April 28, 1980 Issue

Be a "have," not a "have-not"

PEGGY PERCIVAL

Many people today stereotype themselves and others into either of two categories—"haves" and "have-nots." The cliche is that those who are financially well-off, established in a business, socially prominent, and so on, fall into the have group, while the financially poor, the lonely, the jobless, and so on, fall into the have-not group. This materialistic division of society is often believed to be the result of environment, circumstance, heredity, or even luck.

But Christ Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you."^{Luke 17:21;} Then, who and where is this "you"—the real man the Bible tells us about? This man is here, now, at this very moment. He is you; he is me; he is each one of us, despite material appearances. What we have to do is recognize ourselves and others as this real man, God's beloved child. We must look beyond the material senses and their limiting, cruel categories. Then the availability of God's rich blessings will become apparent. The man that God made is the only real man, since God is the only creator. Man has within his consciousness all the blessings of the kingdom of God, just as Jesus told us. These are not limited by matter or made of matter. As we clearly see and understand this fact, and identify ourselves correctly, our outward experience will manifest what we know in our heart to be true of ourselves as His child.

Our material senses can't perceive these blessings that God has given us. So, when we can't even afford what we feel we need, we can and must look beyond a material standpoint. As we acknowledge our true existence from a mental and incorporeal standpoint and rise above the false material predicament into recognition of our divine sonship, our need will be met.

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