Chapter Four: Preparing for Prosperity

One thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you: only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.
    — Phil. 3:13-16.

WHAT WE are is God's gift to us; what we become is our gift to God." God gives us strength and a vision. Using the one to express the other is our part in attaining success, prosperity, and health.

The world is largely filled with persons who desire "better things," but they go on listlessly day by day, saving their best efforts, their best enthusiasm and inspiration, for the bigger opportunity that they feel they deserve. How many persons seem to be dissatisfied with life! They complain of their associates, of their employer, of the humdrum nature of the work that they are called upon to do. If only it were not for this or that person, or if circumstances were only more favorable, they would be very happy and successful, they are sure. So they go from one position to another and always they find that a new position is similar to the old one. Some one, something, seems to be holding them back.

They do not see that what holds them back is themselves; that it is not things or other people, but their own mental attitude, that is adverse.

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As we give [prepare] so do we receive—that is the law. Our giving [preparing] must come first. If we delay our giving [preparing], our supply will be obedient to the same law of delay; it, too, will be delayed. If we withhold our best abilities, our enthusiasms, our joyful activity, awaiting a greater opportunity, then opportunity itself conforms to our attitude; it is withheld also.

The case of a certain Truth teacher illustrates the point. He had visions of a large congregation, a prosperous treasury, and a beautiful church edifice: but his congregation was small, the offerings were barely enough to meet urgent needs, and the meeting place, an attractive bungalowtype church, had been sidetracked by one of the curious shifts of population that are characteristic of every growing city. Away from his pastorate on leave of absence, lecturing in other cities, the teacher received urgent letters from some of his friends imploring him to return. Under a succession of teachers the congregation had dwindled to a mere handful of those who were still devoted to the little church and its message.

So the speaker returned to find that the modest group that he had left had become almost extinct, that there was a deficit in the treasury, and that a generally forlorn air invested the whole place.

At first the leader, too, was despondent. Other groups had seemed to promise much more—larger attendance, greater prosperity, and always in the background the shadowy vision of a perfect setting for the work. "What have I come home to?

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Not even the group that once attended is still loyal to me," he reflected.

Then into his darkened thoughts came a ray of light. "No, not loyal to me, but to the Christ. Christ, if He be lifted up in me, will draw all men unto Him. I will accept the dream of larger crowds, greater prosperity, and a beautiful temple as Christ's vision of growth. I will try to give now the service that I would expect to give to a great congregation in a beautiful church edifice."

In the strength of that vision the work began to grow. One by one members who had fallen away began to attend the services once more. Offerings increased. There was a new spirit in the work. There was an atmosphere about the place that people liked. Frequently a number of them would linger after the service to discuss points in the sermon and to exchange thoughts about their growth in Truth. "More people should be receiving this message," one of the men declared at one of the "aftermeetings." "They need it. It would help them. Why don't they come?" Various reasons were suggested, among them the out-of-the-way location, and inadequate facilities for the work. The speaker joined the group. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, he told them of his own vision of a Truth temple and a great work in it. He found that others of the group shared his vision. "But," said one of them, "we are such a small group. We have no money. Working out such a vision as we have would require a great deal of money."

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"We might move this building to another location," some one suggested.

"Even that would cost a great deal more than any of us could give."

Then the youngest member of the group spoke up. He was a lad of fourteen. "Well," said he, addressing the teacher, "you have always told us that we can have what we need. We need a better meeting place. Let us start praying for it, and start working, too." He reached into his trousers pocket and brought forth a little tin box in which he carried such trinkets as are dear to the heart of a boy. Emptying the box, he searched through his other pockets until he had assembled all his pennies, eleven cents. The other members of the group counted out their small change and added the pennies that they found. The total was twenty-nine cents.

Together the little group blessed the coins and asked the benediction of the loving Father. Then the informal meeting adjourned.

A few persons with a vision can transform a community. That truth was proved again through the little group who had consecrated their twent-ynine cents. Acting on faith, one member of the group began to seek a more desirable location. He learned that a large estate was being settled and that half a city block in an excellent location was to be subdivided into lots and offered for sale. He got in touch with the agent who was selling the property. He found that the estate demanded that a certain sum be derived from the sale. He

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assisted the real estate man in finding buyers. Soon they discovered that the total sum required was almost met and that one lot remained unsold. In gratitude to the man who had worked with him and in appreciation of the work of the members, the agent offered the congregation the last lot at a price that would just complete the required total, a price considerably lower than the lot's market value.

Another meeting, this time a formal one, was called. The center possessed a small endowment fund held in trust by the son of the donor. He was impressed with the plans of the little group, and with his help the property was purchased.

The next step was the moving of the old building to the new location. However, this soon proved to be an impractical move. The expense of moving would be almost half what the building was worth. For a time the vision of the little group seemed thwarted. Then gradually in the minds of several of them the thought of a new building began to grow.

An architect was appointed to draft plans. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the new location. The old building was offered for sale. Builders' estimates were obtained. At first the large sum of money necessary for the project seemed staggering, but, as the public began to hear of the project, contributions, inspired by the courage of the little group, began to come in, and gradually the impossibility became an actuality.

Within six months from the date of the ground

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breaking, a Thanksgiving dinner was served in the new building to over six hundred enthusiastic Truth students. The mayor of the city, several of the council members, and representatives of the newspapers and of. various civic and religious organizations took part. Ministers of most of the church denominations, including a Catholic priest, took part in the dedication exercises. Step by step the project grew from an intangible dream to a vivid actuality, and a sure success.

By some it was first called "a wild dream." It was a dream, but not a wild dream, for back of the dream were the work and faith, the enthusiasm, and the earnest, steadfast efforts of several persons, united in a single worthy purpose.

Having caught the vision, they did not stop there, but devoted the best efforts of mind and heart and hand to the preparing of a way by which the vision should become manifest. A man of great vision once said:

"Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah ; make level in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain: and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it." Isa. 40:3

If we have a vision of beautiful things, faith and works will transform it into actuality. "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." The law

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of vision is preparation. Even while the manifest world about us seems a wilderness as compared to the dream of our heart, we must begin to prepare a way. Knowing that our vision is of God, we must express our faith in Him by working toward the vision. As we work we may find that our concept of the vision changes and expands in our mind, but this is in accordance with the law of growth and unfoldment.

There is an old expression that we sometimes apply to the dreams of our heart: "It is too good to be true!" Actually just the opposite is so. God's good always exceeds even our greatest vision of it. The visions of our heart are but intimations to us of this greater good that God has prepared for those who love Him and who express that love in preparing a way by which their dreams may come true.

Seldom is it given to us to see every step of the way in the fulfillment of our dreams. God gives us energy and the dream. Often there are many steps between the dream and its fulfillment. Seldom can we see very far along the way. Our part is to take the step that we can see and trust to God that, as we take it, following steps will be made clear. If man were to insist that every step of the way be made clear to him before he would take a single one, there would be little progress in the world. Having a vision, we must have faith to fulfill the vision.

Whatever we are to attain of the dreams that fill our mind and heart must be reached by beginning

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where we are. We must give the substance of our prayers, of our thoughts, and the acts of our hands to the dream that we desire to fulfill.

"In the wilderness" is where "the way of Jehovah" is most needed. It is in the wilderness that we must prepare the way. In the wilderness we must catch the vision that foresees and prepares for the coming of our Lord.