IN Science, giving and receiving go hand in hand. He who is the medium through which the law of Love is manifested, dwells in a state of recipiency which both gives and receives. Real giving and receiving are just as accurately governed by spiritual law as addition and subtraction are governed by mathematical law, and all who obtain a thorough understanding of this spiritual law and yield obedience thereto, receive its blessing as certainly as obedience to a mathematical rule yields its gain. This places giving and receiving in scientific accord, and precludes any liability of deviation from divine Principle in their exercise. There is but one right method of adding three to four or of subtracting three from four, and neither the teacher's sympathy for the arduous efforts of his pupil, nor the pupil's possible inability to grasp the rule, can ever alter in one jot or one tittle the invariable law of mathematics respecting the matter. It is the student's task to bring his thought into at-one-ment with the operation of the rule, before he can hope to benefit by it.
When divine law is applied to the finite human sense of giving and receiving, it tends to give it a universal and impartial expression; as Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Whatever blesses one blesses all"(Science and Health, p. 206) Its outcome always makes for mutual good and general satisfaction. It creates equality and interdependence of relationship kindred to that between Principle and idea, God and man. It is expressed in such Scriptural promises as: "I will be his God, and he shall be my son;" and, "He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him [God], and he in him." By its very nature this divine law precludes either impoverishment or superfluity. For example, the act of adding or subtracting neither limits nor enriches mathematics, neither gives anything to it nor takes anything away, for it is already complete. The use of its terms is simply the manifestation of basic law controlling the relationship of known quantities with other known quantities, according to an unchangeable order.
So with the law of man's relation to man. All his affairs are governed by the perfect law of divine Principle; hence, in giving or receiving, as in adding or subtracting, there should be no fear of one's loss at the expense of another's gain, for Principle is just and impartial; it is "no respecter of persons." Like a number, man is a perfect integer, he is complete within himself; nothing can be added to nor taken from him. Like the balanced scales, man, scientifically speaking, is in a state of perfect equilibrium, and moves in reciprocal relation to every other divine idea within the orbit of spiritual love, receiving all that God gives and through reflection giving all he receives. Human life must be improved before thought is lifted to perceive the actualities of Spirit. As this requirement is met, thought commences its mental journey from sense to Soul, and its first faltering footsteps are oftentimes in great need of guidance and support. Christian Science supplies this need through the explanation and demonstration of the sustaining and healing power of the Christ-idea. This is accomplished through the human medium of the Christian Science literature, its church services, its lecturers, its reading-rooms, its committees on publication, and its healing work. Since the source of this helpfulness is spiritual, the channel through which it flows, in order to be found worthy, must exemplify the highest qualities of thought and conduct. Meekness, temperance, and honesty must uphold all the human activities of the Christian Science cause. This of course requires the correct giving and receiving of compensation, which must fulfil the law of justice and right.
