THE SCHOOL OF TRUTH LECTURE TO HIM THAT HATH

Christ, in Chapter 13 of St. Matthew's Gospel speaks to the multitudes in parables,

and the disciples came to Him and asked "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

Christ replied "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom

of heaven, but to them it is not given." The disciples had greater understanding of

the sayings of the Master than the majority of the people. Christ goes on to say,

"Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but

whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." At first, one

is shocked at the seeming unfairness, so let us examine this more closely.

In the light of what has just gone before, the disciples had understanding and

would consequently receive more understanding; but those who had no

understanding would be left in ignorance until they made the effort to awaken.

Take the story recorded in the Old Testament of the widow who fed Elijah. She

had only a 'handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse.' And there was

famine in the land. When Elijah asked her to bake him a cake, it would seem that

she had every excuse to say, "I haven't enough for you and us," but, instead, she

made a little cake for Elijah before making for herself and her son. She used what

she had, and her supply was increased so that they received sufficient funds for

their needs. We first have to give before we can receive - that is the law of giving

and receiving. We already have the infinity of God within us; it is up to us to start

it flowing, for we are the centre from which the good of God pours out to those not

yet aware of their true identity. Elijah set the good flowing from out of the widow's

consciousness, and they were all fed.

Our conscious oneness with God means that we are one with all that He has, and

everyone is an instrument for the out-flowing of God. In realising that the kingdom

of God is within and must flow out from us, we lose all sense of dependence on

other people. We must look to God, and God only, for our needs, without dictating

how those needs are to be met. Certainly God works through His children, but it is

not for us to look to person, thing or condition for the answer. God's grace is our

sufficiency in all things, and our consciousness of Truth in the source, substance

and activity of our daily living. Unto him that hath the consciousness of supply

within, and expresses it outwardly, shall more supply be given - even to the point

of abundance. If we admit poverty we shall experience poverty, and that would be

our perfect demonstration. Therefore, it is up to us to think abundance.

If we have but one statement of Truth, sit quietly and meditate upon it, and we find

that another will come, followed by another and yet another. These truths come

from God-consciousness within - God imparting His Truth to us - and it is our

responsibility to express these truths in our activities. It is not the truth that we

know, but the Truth that God knows. This starts the flow through us, and the

greater the demands that are made upon Him, the greater the flow, as witness the

barrel of meal and the cruse of oil that never ran dry.

By taking that which we have and using it - acknowledging it - we shall

demonstrate 'have' instead of 'have not'. By acknowledging God's wisdom,

understanding and presence within us, our needs begin to materialise. Realise "I

and my Father are one and all that the Father hath is mine."

Merely to say that we are one with Omnipresent God will not change lack into

abundance - we have to know it and feel it, and claim it, and with this truth we can

meet every suggestion of limitation. Then the law of divine inheritance comes into

operation and we can prove that we are sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

We do our work as to God, conscientiously and to the best of our ability, but not

for the purpose of making money. Our work is not the source of our supply - God

is. "Son, all that I have is thine." Realising this, ways open up for the good to flow

out of us. We cannot get health, love or supply, a home or companionship, for

these things are already within us, just as the fruit is already in the seed, but we can

begin to express love, co-operation, service, forgiveness, and thus start the flow by

giving of ourselves.

This reminds one of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) and the man who

travelled into a far country and entrusted his servants with five talents, to another

two talents, and to another one talent, according to their ability. The servant with

the five talents traded them and added another five. "And likewise he that had

received two, he also gained two." But the servant who had received one talent

buried his master's money. The first two earned their employer's gratitude with the

words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Whatever abilities and Godqualities they had, they improved upon them and with experience they increased

them by drawing on God for their good, for the principle of abundance is "To him

that hath shall be given." The third servant was fearful and hid his talent, thereby

blocking the flow of good and earning his Lord's displeasure. He was too lazy even

to recognise that he had a blessing that could be used. In every walk of life it is

necessary to keep active our consciousness of good.

We should give because we have, in gratitude but never with any expectancy of

what we may receive in consequence. To expect to receive good from any source

outside our own being would separate us from that good. Any form of giving of

such things as money, food, clothing, or of love, forgiveness, peace, should be

because we have gratitude for these things, and we pour forth without seeking a

return or reward. We live our lives as instruments through which the Infinite pours

Itself out in Its fullness, and as we allow good to flow out it flows back to us.

Meditate upon the truths of the Bible and gain inner realisation of them. Keeping

the Word of God alive in our daily activities, we shall never know lack or

limitation, for God is our Father and provider.