The words that Jesus uttered to the rich young man, centuries ago, ring out to-day with meaning to those who have ears to hear: "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." No doubt, the individual who lacks material wealth, such as, it is presumed, figured among the young man's possessions, will feel that the words spoken on this occasion do not apply especially to him; but, on a moment's reflection, one will become aware of the fact that houses and lands are a necessity, if the belief be accepted that matter is real and substantial. One may have a bright intellect, a pleasing personality, the faculty for doing one thing or another in a creditable manner. In just so far as one believes that these qualities originate in matter, and, therefore, are apart from God, has he a misconceived idea of possession, which he will sooner or later have to give up. The giving up of false beliefs in regard to possession does not necessarily imply that one is to dispose materially of his property or disregard human ability; but, rather, that one is to know that the reality and the permanency of all true possessions depend upon his ability to reflect divine intelligence.
The word "sell," as mentioned in the above instance, turns one's thought involuntarily to a sense of things wherein one material thing is exchanged for something else material. Here we may recall that Jesus once said to his disciples, "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" When one applies his understanding of divine metaphysics to these words, he will recognize at once that he is to give up the belief of life in matter, and find his true identity in Soul, expressed through spiritual sense. When we actively use God's law of exchange, this law will begin to operate in the smallest details of our affairs. That is to say, we shall value every temporal thing of which we partake, simply because it expresses the loving provision for a present need, rather than from a material viewpoint of value. When this line of reasoning accompanies the payment for services rendered between individuals, the one who is receiving benefit from the time and attention of another and the one who is paying him for his services are alike receiving that which is meeting human needs, and both recipients are giving up the belief in materiality. Thus, we shall be found, not growing in materialism, but growing out of it.
The command of the great Teacher to give "to the poor" did not necessarily refer only to bestowing charity on such individuals as lacked material wealth, any more than the command, "Sell whatsoever thou hast," meant to dispose of one's entire earthly possessions. The "poor in spirit" are those who have learned the limitations which go hand in hand with their material possessions, and have given up reliance on them in their search for the enduring spiritual riches, which supply the deeper needs, and offer an antidote for sorrow and ease from pain.
