NEOPHYTES in Christian Science often speak with admiration of the willingness with which the members of Christian Science churches contribute to the needs of the movement. For generations, suggestion has whispered to churchgoers that rent and household bills must be paid first because these represent services rendered, while contributions to the church are gifts. Christian Scientists, deeming the spiritual food received through their church services necessary and important, are willing and even eager to pay for this greatest of services, and they do not consider what they give as mere donations, but more as gratitude expressed.

The real Church is spiritual, and is spiritually sustained. In our present stage of unfoldment, however, we still need material structures, built and supported through consecration, love, intelligence, loyalty, and faith, expressed in generous giving. Of the transitory stage Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 442), "Christ, Truth, gives mortals temporary food and clothing until the material, transformed with the ideal, disappears, and man is clothed and fed spiritually." We can apply this pronouncement to the present necessity of supporting our churches, always recognizing that loyal support reflects the Christ, Truth.

The sublime spiritual endowments of Christ Jesus gave him the ability to use every circumstance for the glory of God. When he found himself in a desert place surrounded by a multitude that had followed him from the cities, seeking his teaching and healing, he used this opportunity to prove to them, in a manner that they could understand, the great fact that God's bounty is ever available to mankind. In multiplying the five loaves and two fishes, Jesus fed the multitude materially as well as spiritually, and through this improved belief brought them a step nearer to the understanding that God, good, amply supplies all needs. In view of this example, we, his humble followers in the truth he taught and demonstrated, can safely use this same method in sustaining our church.

Freedom from the belief of limitation results from the true understanding of God. This understanding enables one to withstand the subtle arguments of evil which whisper of so many responsibilities requiring immediate attention that there would seem to be nothing left for our church contributions. This false argument was beautifully annulled by two young students of Christian Science. For years they had been unsuccessfully laboring to pay a debt incurred by untoward circumstances. They wished to be free from this debt so that they might be able to give something to the church without feeling that they were giving money which should be used in paying off the private debt. As they earnestly worked on the problem, they began to ask themselves, Are the demands of mortals more just than those of God? As the answer was No, they realized that Christian Science and its good must be put first in their affections, and that Truth would enable them to fulfill their obligations to their fellow men. Daily they became more sure of this as they began giving regularly to the church, always giving a little more than human sense first proposed that they should give, and seeing this giving as a proof of their faith and of their desire to be obedient to the spiritual demand. Rich reward was theirs indeed; for in eight months, not only was the private debt completely wiped out, but they had also given a substantial sum to the church.

King Hezekiah must have taught this same mode of giving, for we read in II Chronicles, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty." Only the constant looking to matter as substance could mesmerize us into calculating our material needs first and giving of the surplus to the church; and as we look to matter in our giving we limit ourselves in our receiving.

Giving part of our income to the church is in accordance with the Word of God and of His law, as expressed by Moses, who commanded the children of Israel to give a tithe of their substance to God, stipulating that it was not to be given of what remained after all were satisfied, but of the "first–fruits" of their flocks and fields. On page 595 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy defines "tithe" in part as "contribution; tenth part; homage; gratitude." This is the refutatory answer to the false suggestion that there is no particular benefit derived from contributing to the church fund. Has not the giving been, perhaps, propitiatory, in the hope of benefit and redemption, instead of with gratitude and homage?

Giving always results in receiving when we give not only outwardly of our "firstfruits," but also of gratitude and homage, for "such is the law of love." We have a beautiful example of this in the narrative of the widow of Zarephath. Though she had only enough meal and oil in the house for a last morsel for her son and herself, Elijah asked her to dress in into a cake for him first, evidently feeling that by her willingness to give she must prove the receptivity which would make possible her own demonstration of supply. This was a great test, as the widow seemed to be so mesmerized by the belief of lack that she was at the point of accepting the further belief of death by starvation. Everyone who has read the lovely narrative recalls that Elijah, through knowing that God, Spirit, is supreme, proved His ever present providence in a supply of oil and meal sufficient to supply the needs of the widow's household, including Elijah, for "many days."

As we walk on the highroad to heaven, Love ever impels us to do kindly human deeds, and to give the money needed to support a right work. Our dear Leader hints at this in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" where she writes (p. 216): "What, then, can a man do with truth and without a cent to sustain it? Either his life must be a miracle that frightens people, or his truth not worth a cent." This pronouncement gives good reason for generosity of members of Christian Science churches, whose giving of their "firstfruits," as well as their homoage and gratitude, is manifested in beauty and the comfort of their church edifices.