"Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us." This remarkable statement, made by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 79), is of profound importance to the student of Christian Science, as it not only is capable of being demonstrated, but sooner or later must be demonstrated by each individual seeker for Truth.
What a wonderful concept of giving this statement holds forth —a giving that does not impoverish, does not lessen our store of good! What a contrast to the general belief of mankind that a gift, no matter how worthy the cause or the occasion which has inspired it, depletes the substance of the giver! Although this concept of giving may seem new and strange to material thinking, it is thoroughly in accord with that law of true giving stated by the Master: "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." True giving, scientific giving, through reflection of God, good, increases our abundance instead of diminishing it.
It is apparent that this giving which does not impoverish differs from that ordinarily practiced by mortals, for in the latter case the giver not only often has a sense of having less substance afterwards, but also is many times disappointed with the results of his giving. His gift may be unappreciated; its effect on the recipient may be harmful rather than helpful; it may seem to subject him to undeserved criticism or undue praise. Nearly everyone has experienced or observed these and other defects of giving from the human standpoint. Inasmuch as scientific giving, however, blesses the giver as well as the recipient, it could not possibly produce inharmonious results.
