Giving and Receiving

KELLOGG PATTON

The world, generally, regards the problem of supply for its daily needs as involving merely a getting process, whereas a little reasoning on the subject from the standpoint of Christian Science shows that the solving of this problem is primarily a giving or expressing process. This fact became apparent to a class in a Christian Science Sunday School in considering the Lesson-Sermon on the subject of "Substance."

It was brought out in the class that in no human occupation can anyone receive until he gives. The day laborer must give of his labor before he is paid; the clerk must give of his services, the attorney of his advice, before they are recompensed; and the pupil in school must give receptive attention, alertness, diligence, promptness, perseverance, in order to receive an education. Also, throughout all mercantile business there must be both receiving and giving of goods and services before payment is given for them.

In Christian Science it is learned that God, Spirit, eternally gives man, His image and likeness, the substance of infinite Spirit as supply. Included in this giving, and inseparable from it, are the attributes of Spirit, such as wisdom, goodness, love, understanding, capacity, ability, abundance. Therefore, in spiritual being, God gives man the consciousness of infinite, indivisible substance as supply, and man gives forth continually all that God gives him.

This true spiritual economy is continually being exemplified in a degree in the human economy. The reflection or expression of true attributes or qualities, such as honesty, fidelity, kindness, attention, alertness, humility, efficiency, accuracy, results in the manifestation of supply in human terms. No one receives without this kind of giving; and the more that is given forth of a Godlike nature, the more is received. As Mrs. Eddy has written on page 307 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." This lesson on the value of true giving also taught the Sunday school class a lesson in values, for it was realized that the worth of a laborer, clerk, employer or employee is in proportion to his reflection of the attributes of God.

Christ Jesus clearly stated the law of the operation of divine economy in human affairs when he said (Luke 6:38): "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

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