How should we decide our financial support of worthy causes? Ideally, giving should be motivated by our understanding of God's abundant goodness and a real love for what the recipient represents, whether our gift is to an individual, a church, a humanitarian or political organization.

One method for determining the amount to contribute is to give what can be spared. Another is to set a designated amount and give regularly. But James's letter in the Bible advises, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." ^{James 1:17;}

Seen in this perspective, our giving will be governed by our comprehension of God's infinite nature. This is not to say that we should be thoughtless of our own or family needs, or of established obligations. But when we see a need, we can expand our reliance on God's care so we can meet it.

The temple tax collectors asked Peter, "Doth not your master pay tribute?" He answered, "Yes," without hesitation. Later, when Peter told Christ Jesus about his encounter, Jesus sent him to catch a fish, from whose mouth he obtained a coin sufficient for both his and Jesus' taxes. ^{See Matt. 17:24-27;}

Jesus' valuable example shows us the limitless resources available through spiritual perception, instead of leaning primarily on a bank balance or established source of funds for help. What a timeless guideline for our own donations this can be.

Wisely motivated generosity doesn't include depletion. Because good is all and unlimited, divine Love is continually communicating to man his wholeness and completeness. As we rely on Love for direction, we gain a clearer understanding of the Apostle Paul's words to the church at Corinth, "For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality." ^{II Cor. 8: 13, 14;}

A faint but growing awareness of unlimited good freed a new student of Christian Science to donate what was to her, at the time, a relatively large sum toward building the Christian Science Center in Boston. Much healing had occurred through her study of Science, and the building fund seemed a natural place to express her thanks. With joy and conviction she sent off her contribution. Only a few days later, with no one knowing of her action, the exact amount she had sent was given to her by a distant relative. This totally unexpected gesture was to her a clear statement of Love's constant provision for its reflection, man. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for tomorrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment. What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307;}

When we discern the invariable abundance of good that God provides, giving becomes natural. And as we destroy lack and limitation in our own concept of things, this view of generosity spreads. Then the words of Malachi are fulfilled: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." ^{Mal. 3:10.}

Universal comprehension of the divine abundance will finally and forever obliterate lack. As giving is approached from a more spiritual basis and humanity learns to acknowledge good's, God's, ever-present nature, need will be progressively eliminated. The wonderful thing is that we can begin now to make these truths evident to mankind, simply by acting on what we understand of them.