The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-02-10

seek it, The Bible tells us what
IL IL. and the Christian Science
textbook outlines practical steps
to be taken toward finding II.
With these books as our guides,
and their directions faithfully fol-
lowed. We cannot miss the way.
THE POOR
To preach the gospel TO the
poor" Is the phrase Of the Mes
sianie mission OF Christ Jesus men,
toned first in the passage we
quoted q few moments ago. What
sort of news do you think would
be good news TO the poor7 Would
they consider II good news to be
told that they were born to pow
erty, and that there was no way
OF escape from IL? Would IL help
them to be told that If they would
bear their poverty patiently they
would be compensated by riches
hereafter' II such statements
were true they would undoubtedly
be helpful. But they are not true.
They carry an implication that
God has decreed poverty for some
and riches for others: that there
is a law OF compensation which
works materially. by which those
who are rich in material things
hereafter become poor. and those
who are deprived of material
things now. will in the future
have an abundance of them. There
is no such law. The fact is. God
is not cognizant of matter or
things material.
1t would, however, be good news
to the poor were they TO hear that
right doing and honest dealing do
not produce poverty; that poverty
is not a result of obedience to the
laws of God. II would help them
were they to learn that God does
not send poverty to anyone; that
He did not create IL: that II does
not belong TO or exist in His king
dom: and that II is one of those
conditions OF thought from which
knowledge of the truth about
God and man will make free.
During the years of his min
istry Jesus associated with both
the poor and the rich. He loved
the poor neither more nor less
than he loved the rich. He made
no virtue OF poverty, nor did ne
condemn riches. though he did
condemn trust In riches. Poverty
is not a virtue. II Ia q phase of
limitation which should be over
come. Poverty Is a denial of the
allness, the goodness, and the
everywhereness of God. II ia not
adequately defined by the term
lack of money" IL In a state OF
mind. The poorest person 1 have
ever known was a man who had
more money than anyone else In
the neighborhood. Poverty il q
state of mind, and its sntidote Il
the truth as expressed by Mrs.
Eddy on page 5 of The First
Church Of Christ, Scientist. and
Miscellany" in thess words. Chris
tian Science comes to reveal man
az Gods image. His idea, CO.
existent with Him God giving
all and man having all that God
gives"
But someone may ask. What
does God give7 Centuries age
the writer Of the ninety-firsi
Psalm gave his readers this COM
forting assurance, based. as most
promises are, upon a specific con-
dition. The condition was, Be
cause thou hast made the LORD
&. thy hsbitation" The prom
ise was. There shall no evil be-
fan thee. neither shall any plague
come nigh thy dwelling" And
the reason given all was. For he
shall give his angels chsrg. over
thee, 10 keep thee in all thy ways
God gives His angels charge over
US. His angels are not some sort Of
winged creatures. Angels ar. de.
fined in our textbooks. in part (p
osl1, as Gods thoughts passing
10 man: spiritual intuitions. pure
and perfect"
God does not give men material
things, for the simple reason n.
has no such things 10 give. n.
does, however. give us something
more substantial Hear thu
statement Of Mrs. Eddy given or
page 307 of Miscellaneous Writ.
ings": God gives you His spiritual
IDEAS. and in turn, they give yol
daily supplies. Never ask for 70
morrow: IL il enough that dlvin.
Love Is an ever-prssent help; sne
! II you wait, never doubling, yol
will have all you need every mo.
ment" TINS does not mean thai
one should DO nothing, should
make no effort, and expect 10 b.
fed by the ravens II you nav.
any such notion listen again. Coo
gives you HIS spiritual IDEAS. and
IN turn. they give you daily sup.
/ plies" Did you notice those words
in turn, they give you In
other words. Cod gives you HI
IDEAS His qualities. and a. yol
Use them, they supply you. YoI
have something 70 30. You hsy,
+ your part 10 play. Your part - u
reflect COD Whether your daily
task is sweeping a street or man
aging a railroad. your work 10 u
reflect intelligence. wisdom, en-
srgy, activity. etc, qualities vhiet