“The Gift That Is In Thee”

IT is interesting to note that when Paul used the word gift in the sixth and twelfth chapters of Romans, and in several places in his first epistle to the Corinthians, he selected a Greek word, charisma, signifying “spiritual recompense, a free gift of grace,” translated by one authority “the power of a holy life,” a word which differs from the one used in Matthew ii. 11, also in other places in the gospels, in that this word, donor, implies a material offering or earthly treasure. When Paul wrote in his first epistle to Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee,” he employed this same Greek word, charisma, so that there could be no doubt as to the spiritual character of this gift, even if the apostle had not qualified it by the explanation “which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery,” the “laying on of the hands” being merely a phrase symbolic of spiritual power.

To prophesy originally meant to speak for, to interpret the inspired teachings of a god; later it signified to reveal or interpret the divine will, to utter divinely inspired declarations, and so came to include the faculty of foretelling events of great moment revealed through inspiration. This capacity of prophetic foresight, however, was counterfeited frequently by the sinister practice of sorcery and witchcraft; but when this meaning was intended, another Greek word was substituted, translated in the sixteenth chapter of Acts as “a spirit of divination.”

It is significant that in this connection Paul speaks of a “sorcerer” as a pseudo-prophet, “a false prophet.” Jesus uncovered and denounced this perverted mental practice when he said: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

It is clear that the legitimate function of the prophecy to which Paul referred in his message to Timothy, was the gift of interpreting the divine will, the high office of dispensing the word of God with power and authority. The divinely inspired vision of “a new heaven and a new earth,” and of man as neither material nor subject to mortality, but existing eternally as the immaculate idea or reflection of Life, Truth, and Love, “the infinite Father-Mother God” (Science and Health, p. 516), is indeed the gift of gifts, a spiritual and living gift, and one which unfolds in the consciousness of him who neglects it not, offering him protection and solace at all times and under every circumstance. The intelligent and consecrated purpose to employ this gift of an exalted spiritual vision for the betterment, enlightenment, of others still held in the mental darkness of sin, sickness, or inharmonious, constituted and still constitutes the holy and lawful use of prophetic power, a gift given “by prophecy.”

Jesus called himself a prophet, and counseled the people to beware of false prophets, saying in his incomparably simple language, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” For if these fruits were spiritually sound and lovely, they would be unmistakably the product of a life genuinely animated by divine Love. Jesus’ life presented to those among whom he worked an unfailingly correct model by which they could test their own as well as others’ achievements; and that his disciples might not think his standard humanly too high for their attainment, he encouraged them with the ardent words, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

The Master also said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit,” and demonstrated by his own life of prayer and fasting that this fruit could result only from a life lived close to God through abidance in the Way shower,—Christ, Truth. Paul gave valiant proof that such was his life purpose by his career of ceaseless activity to embody in works his living faith, as well as by his compelling earnestness in striving to awaken others to this great individual responsibility. This inspiring aim is plainly evident in his message to Timothy when he said, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee;” adding further, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; . . . for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Surely there is a vital lesson in these words for each and every one who has partaken of the blessings attained through the revelation of Christian Science; for is not he to whom health, harmony, or freedom from some enslaving habit has come, the recipient of a precious and wonderful gift? Perhaps some of us have never stopped to formulate to ourselves just what our particular gift is. Since Paul, as we have seen, classified it as a gift “by prophecy,” it is evident that the release from physical suffering or freedom from discord cannot, in itself, be our gift. Is not rather the glimpse we have had into the realm of divine law,—man’s birthright of eternal harmony,—our gift, of which the physical healing is but the outward sign and symbol? And is not the intelligent use to which we are called upon to put this gift a necessary and joyful responsibility placed upon each one of us, as well as an opportunity which is indispensable to our individual growth and progress?

Unquestionably, life never can be quite the same for one who has experienced healing in Christian Science from some distressing condition, no matter how indistinct to him this vision of Truth may be, or how inattentive he may be at the time to its insistent and uncompromising appeal to “come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing,”—all that makes up a false material sense of pleasure in matter or evil. Sooner or later he will awaken to the realization that only by voluntarily resisting, “putting off,” the subtle mental suggestion that there is happiness and profit in what the world calls good and counts as gain, can a clear grasp of the deep significance of this gift be gained.

Perhaps some one may think that he has been given no gift, because a permanent consciousness of health and harmony seems obstructed by intermittent recurrences of some old trouble. For him the vision of the real universe of Spirit, perfect and forever present, is as it were obscure and distant. Recalling the Scriptural promise, “Ye shall seek me [God], and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart,” let such a one courageously ask himself: What am I doing to earn this healing? Am I faithfully employing the understanding which I have obtained of Truth, thus recognizing that I possess a gift? Am I rejoicing in the great fact of spiritual being, confident that as one of God’s ideas I cannot be excluded from sharing the full glory of this revelation? How conscientious am I in my daily study of the Lesson-Sermon, the text-book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy, together with our Leader’s other writings? How active am I in casting upon the waters my bread, the spiritual food so plentifully provided in our periodicals, that having blessed me, it may go out into all the world, preaching the gospel of freedom from bondage to those hungering for a practical understanding of the ever-presence of divine Love?

Again, am I looking absolutely to God for my healing, turning to Him hourly for guidance and support, or am I indolently or fearfully leaning upon some practitioner to do my work for me? How careful am I to judge righteous judgment, to separate in my own thinking the individual from whatever error may be claiming recognition as man, so that striving to see as God sees, I may radiate love to all impartially? Am I letting my light, the little light that I actually have, shine, or am I hiding it under a bushel of ingratitude, discouragement, and conceit, lest it seem insignificant and unworthy beside the greater shining of others? What if it does seem smaller (to mortal eyes) than theirs, is this any reason for inaction? How grateful we should be that in the divine Mind there are no comparisons, that man exists and is known by the Father as a perfect and complete idea, expressive of infinite good!

If any of us have been apathetically neglecting to cherish our gift, content to be passive participants of spiritual benefits, we only have to remember the question which in the parable aroused from lethargy the laborers in the vineyard, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Since each individual is required to work out his own salvation, to apply to every problem the scientific knowledge of “God with us,” of Life, Truth, Love, harmony and health with us, now is certainly the time to begin. When we gratefully accept the opportunity nearest at hand to work for and with God, irrespective of how small this task may be, whether in the home, in business, or in church work, our effort will be blessed, and will bring its reward in opportunities that are ever widening out into avenues of richer usefulness and service.

As the Master pointed out in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, there is plenty of work for all, equal rights and privileges, with equal compensation. Favoritism has no place in the divine order of things; therefore we only have to lift our thought above the mortal clamor for power and distinction to recognize that no one can defraud us of our work which comes to us from God, nor prevent the full accomplishment of loving endeavors. God alone being the judge, personal praise or blame is alike without power to advance or hinder the spiritual progress of one whose aim is to serve God and to love his neighbor as himself.

The consciousness of divine Love unfolds in man in proportion to the righteous activity of his thoughts, words, and deeds. On page 113 of “Miscellaneous Writings” Mrs. Eddy says: “He who refuses to be influenced by any but the divine Mind, commits his way to God, and rises superior to suggestions from an evil source. . . . Divine Love is our hope, strength, and shield. We have nothing to fear when Love is at the helm of thought, but everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven.” When we consider that divine Love is omniaction, whatever seems to be activity but manifests a lack of love—that is, universal love—is a false claim to action, and is therefore stagnation, inertia, and consequently without power to impede or obstruct the onward moving current of spiritual activity. The jetsam of ingratitude, ignorance, pride, and fear may be dislodged and come floating to the surface, but having no resisting power of their own, they will be borne on and gradually dispersed into nothingness by the increasing impetus of scientific and progressive thought-power.

Let us rejoice that opportunities for active work, whereby we may use our gift, the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven at hand, are many and varied. If we are striving for higher spiritual vision, and awake to the necessity of self purification, of prayerful examination of our aims and ambitions, and are seeking to let our light shine, through systematic study and practice of the Word of God, illuminated by the writings of our revered Leader, we shall find that those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness will recognize in us the possession of that priceless gift which Paul defines as “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The joy which comes to us in proving the truth to others, thus sharing with them this blessed gift which heals the sick, cleanses the sinner, and raises to conscious life in God the deadened thought mesmerized by false beliefs in a power apart from good, is the joy to which Jesus referred when he said, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taken from you.”