What is prosperity? Explain fully.

1. The first question that presents itself in the study of this subject is, "What is prosperity?"1 In this lesson we shall seek to find the true meaning of the word. To find the true meaning of prosperity we must get away from the belief of limitation in the realm of appearances and into an understanding of reality.

2. In cleansing the soul-consciousness of false beliefs concerning prosperity, the first to be erased is the belief that possession of things only constitutes prosperity.2 Such a belief is a false concept and has no place in Truth.

3. True prosperity is a rich state of mind, a consciousness of rich ideas, a consciousness which recognizes the individual's oneness with Infinite Mind, with all the ideas of supply and service which inhere in that Mind or Mind Essence, another name for substance. "Prosperity is the enrichment man gains inwardly through the right use of divine ideas."3 Prosperity is the consciousness of continued well-being man derives from an understanding of his Source and Sustenance, Spirit Substance, Mind Essence. Prosperity is a state of consciousness in which there is no lack of anything good, a consciousness of well-being. It is the consciousness of abundance based on an understanding of God as the inexhaustible resource of good which is open to all men. One is prosperous to the extent that he is establishing a consciousness of peace, health, and plenty and manifesting it in his world. Stop and give yourself a treatment for the cleansing and renewing of your mind on this point. Say,

My understanding is quickened by the word of Truth, and I no longer believe4 that prosperity consists only in possession of things. These are but manifestations of the inner working of ideas in mind. I acknowledge God, Divine Mind, with all its inhering ideas, to be my unfailing and unlimited resourse.

1. prosperity. Metaphysically, prosperity is a state of consciousness: the consciousness of God as the abundant, everywhere present resource, unfailing, ready for all who open themselves to it through faith. (RW/prosperity)
2. possession, prosperity. [Possession is not prosperity.] The difference between spiritual prosperity and material prosperity is that spiritual prosperity is founded on understanding of the inexhaustible, omnipresent substance of Spirit as the source of supply; the material belief is that the possession of things constitutes prosperity. (RW/prosperity)
3. through the right use of divine ideas. [Divine Ideas are a foundational concept in Fillmore teaching. Fundamentally, prosperity is our proper use of ideas.] Everything is first an idea in mind, and this law holds good, not only in the creations of God, but in the forms made by man as well. (RW/idea)
4. I no longer believe. [This is a denial. Frank and Martha Guidici say,] "First of all, "we have to be aware that we need to cleanse our consciousness. We have to begin to work with denials. Charles Fillmore was a great one. He never let go of the denials. He said that had we build our consciousness on the perfect pattern, then there would be no need for denials, but since it’s very obvious that we have not built our consciousness on the perfect pattern, then we need to use denials." (Frank and Martha Guidici, Self-Awareness, Lesson 4, Cleansing)

What is substance?

4. Substance1 is not so generally recognized2 as some of the other attributes or ideas of God, such as life, love, wisdom and power, but it is very necessary to the well-being of man, and it should be recognized and studied and used. Substance is Mind Essence, the body of God; it is Omnipresence, all penetrating, all potential, all intelligent, all providing, all sustaining, everywhere present. It is the foundation of the universe, all things being formed from it, the structure upon which all things are made; it is that in which ideas live and move and have being just as a fish lives and moves and has being in water. Although substance or Mind Essence is invisible and intangible to the outer eye of manifest man, man has the power of thought3 or of image-making by which he can attune himself to Spirit and by this mind activity come to see and feel divine substance as a living reality. From this living reality or substance we form in our mind mental images or pictures of whatever we will or desire, whatever we think or feel. These forms then take shape in the outer or physical realm as things, circumstances and conditions and are known as formed substance, matter or material things.

1. Substance. Metaphysically, substance is an idea in Divine Mind; an attribute of Being. It is the spiritual essence out of which all things are made (RW/substance)
2. is not so generally recognized. It is visible and comprehensible to mind, but the five senses of man cannot apprehend it. ... Substance is made visible to the sense man by our thought. However, we do not see it as it is in Being, but as it appears to our limited understanding. We have not recognized substance, because our minds have been centered on effect instead of cause, on manifestation in matter instead of the idea back of manifestation.
3. man has the power of thought. We have access to the divine realm from which all thoughts are projected into the world. We are constantly taking ideas from the spiritual world and forming them into our own conception of the things we desire. Sometimes the finished product does not satisfy or please us. That is because we have taken the idea away from its true parents, wisdom and love, and let it grow to maturity in an atmosphere of error and ignorance. (Charles Fillmore, Prosperity, page 30.)

What is matter? What is the distinction between substance and matter?

5. Matter, or manifest objects, is formed substance.1 It is an effect or the form or appearance of substance or Mind Essence in the physical realm after it has been handled in the mind or consciousness of man by his thought or image-making power. Both substance and thought power are absolutely good. Man as a spiritual being is given absolute freedom to use them as he chooses. So matter or the form or appearance of divine substance on the physical plane is dependent upon man's understanding and use of substance. Man therefore becomes a secondary cause2 in producing events and things in the manifest realm. Whatever the form, the condition, the thing that appears, it has been formed or produced out of spiritual substance and this Mind essence always pervades it. The substance or Mind essence never changes, but the form or appearance of things and conditions change according to the understanding and use of man's thought power. Man is in a state of becoming conscious of himself as a spiritual being. He is growing and unfolding in understanding of his Christ dominion and mastery through right use of his image-making power. Many of his thoughts and actions show that he has not yet attained the highest consciousness of perfection, a consciousness that is his divine heritage. It shows that he does not always form, make or produce out of divine substance (body of God) that which accords with the character and nature of God, which is Absolute Good. The appearances in the manifest realm are not always in accord with the divine idea that lies behind them.3 Jesus instructed us against taking appearances as the basis for our thinking and feeling when He said, "Judge not according to appearance." — John 7:24. Understanding the omnipresence of God, we know that His life and intelligence and substance permeate all things and that there is, therefore no absence anywhere of life, substance, and intelligence. This is a good affirmation to make. It will free the mind from many limiting beliefs.

6. What metaphysicians call substance, natural scientists name the universal ether.4

"The very air is alive with dynamic forces that await man's grasp and utilization . . . these invisible, omnipresent energies possess potentialities far beyond our most exalted conception. What we have been taught about the glories of heaven pales into insignificance compared with the glories of the radiant rays–popularly referred to as the ether. We are told by science that we have utilized very meagerly this mighty ocean of ether in producing from it the light and power of electricity. The invisible waves that carry radio programs everywhere are but a mere hint of an intelligent power that penetrates and permeates every germ of life, visible and invisible." – Charles Fillmore Prosperity 10.

7. Substance contains all the elements in a rarefied state. "Form" or matter is substance condensed so that it is visible in a three-dimensional world.5 That which is real to a metaphysician is that which is permanent, substantial, enduring. Organized forms or bodies in the manifest world are not permanent and enduring, but the elements of which they are composed are resolved back to the rarefied state from which they came; thus nothing is ever lost or destroyed in Spirit. All is God and God is all. Should we take a piece of ice, put it in a vessel, and raise the temperature the form of the ice would disappear and we would know the substance as liquid, water. Still raising the temperature, it would next become steam and would float away as gases out of the sight of the physical eye. Because it is not visible to the physical eye does not mean that it has been destroyed or lost; it has simply been transformed from a solid, dense state to a lighter and more rarefied one. Solidification of a thing is due to a decrease in the rate of movement of its particles. In the physical world this movement is known as vibration. The higher the rate of energy the more nearly invisible the substance is, until finally it is not comprehended by the physical eye. The highest rate of movement is in mind, in what we term consciousness, the activity of the invisible substance.

1. Matter... is formed substance. God as substance does not mean matter, because matter is formed; God is formless. The substance that God is lies back of all matter and all form. It is that which is the basis of all form, yet enters not into any form as finality. [Finality is of secondary cause, manifestation.] It cannot be seen, tasted, or touched, yet it is the one and only "substantial" substance. Charles Fillmore, Keep a True Lent, The Holy Trinity, 14
2. secondary cause. [What we see in the manifest world is the result of two causes: Primal or First Cause as Divine Mind creating Divine Ideas or perfect forms and Secondary Cause as our thinking processes shaping substance from ideas and forms into manifestations]. "Primal causes are complete, finished, absolute. All that we manifest has its origin in a cause that we name Divine Mind. The one Mind is absolute, and all its manifestations or effects are in essence like itself. This being true in logic, it is not difficult to arrive at the conclusion that the effect proves the character of the cause." (RW/causes)
3. appearances, the divine idea that lies behind them. Metaphysically, appearances are manifestations, the materialization of a Truth idea; the coming forth into visibility of that which has been affirmed; the appearance of an idea (RW/manifestation).
4. the universal ether. The term "ethers" was used quite often in the writings of Charles Fillmore. It was a term that was popular among the scientists and metaphysicians of his time to explain how activity takes place in the universe. However, it has become apparent that the factual reality of etheric substance has been disproven by modern science. This tends to cause some doubt and confusion as to what Mr. Fillmore actually meant when he used this term in his teachings. It is important to point out that Mr. Fillmore's understanding of the idea of a dynamic universe transcends the vocabulary he used to describe it. This helps us understand that while physical science is subject to change, universal principle is eternal. Unity Metaphysics 2 (Blue Book), Appendix: The Ethers Concept. [The Blue Book Appendix has an in depth section on the history of the ether concept that sheds light on the parallels between Mr. Fillmore's observations and the discoveries of modern physics.]
5. matter is substance condensed so that it is visible in a three-dimensional world. [Substance is of] the fourth dimension, a transcendent realm that Jesus called the "kingdom of the heavens." ... The fourth dimension (which embraces and encompasses the other three dimensions) is also realization, the doing away with time and space and all conditions. The human mind, with its limited reasoning faculties, is bound by time, space, and conditions and can get no farther into the spiritual than reason will take it [which is why substance must be condensed for its appearance in our three-dimensional world] (RW/fourth-dimension). Ed Rabel writes, "One of the problems connected with thinking about the fourth dimension is that some persons tend to think of the fourth dimension as the Absolute. It is not the Absolute, but only a dimension which transcends most of the current limitations of three-dimensional existence. The Absolute is not any dimension." (Metaphysics 1, Tan Book, The Kingdom of God, The Fourth Dimension)

What relation does divine substance bear to man's supply?

8. One definition that Webster gives of substance is: that in which properties inhere. Unity refers to it as "thought stuff," "mind stuff," the raw material out of which all things are made. God being infinite Mind, then the substance of God would be all the ideas inhering in Divine Mind; a spiritual aggregation so to speak, of all the qualities or attributes of God; the universal supply of all good;1 the source of all that is manifested or unmanifested. Everything begins in mind; ideas are the cause of all that appears in the manifest; ideas are the builders.

9. We have stated that substance is the body of God or Omnipresence, and the admonition is, "Take, eat" (Matt. 26:26).2 All the ideas which inhere in Divine Mind are ours to appropriate and use in whatever combination or form we desire. We may take substance in the form of life, in the form of love, in the form of power, in the form of strength, in the form of faith, in the form of prosperity – whatever we feel that we are needing. We have the privilege also of combining these ideas in any way we choose. Substance then is the essential foundation, or that which stands under all visible things. The first emanation of God Mind, the first "God said," – Gen. 1:3, of creation, is light; and so if we would rightly combine these ideas which are the body of God we must not only have that which stands under but also light,3 that which understands. Otherwise we bring in to the manifest world that which is imperfect or incomplete, that which is far from satisfying.

1. substance is ... the universal supply of all good. “The first step, then, in the manifesting of supply is to establish faith in omnipresent spiritual substance as the source of all that is. We reason after this fashion: God is my supply. God is spiritual substance everywhere present; therefore my supply is everywhere present. My acknowledgment of God’s omnipresent spiritual substance delivers it into my life as the fulfillment of my needs” (Georgiana Tree West, Prosperity's Ten Commandments, 13).
2. "Take, eat." Jesus considered divine substance the treasure field in which He could find the fulfillment of His every need. Every demonstration over mortal limitations is followed by a realization of infinite reality. When we put away the belief in the reality of matter, there follows a realization of the presence of true substance, of which matter is a mortal concept. (RW/substance)
3. we must not only have that which stands under but also light. We must learn to turn to the God Presence within, through prayer, for the fulfillment of our needs. When we do this we are consciously contacting the ideas of God that inhere in divine substance. (How I Used Truth, Lesson 5, Annotation 3)

Explain the meaning of the Scripture, "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.

10. An understanding of God as substance forms the foundation of true spiritual prosperity. Those who know God in this manner have an assurance of unfailing supply. By understanding and faith they lay hold of the one substance and bring it into manifestation according to their need. By acknowledging and praising God as substance,1 the mind is opened to ideas inhering in substance2 which then flow into consciousness3 as a great stream of bounty.4 This explains why Jesus said, "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." – Matt. 6:33. He knew the one source of supply and He lived constantly in the consciousness of it, and He was pointing it out to man. It also explains why He said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. – Matt. 6:20. The inexhaustible source of mind essence or substance is available at all times and in all places to those who have learned to lay hold of it consciously. Thus they build a consciousness of rich ideas which is true prosperity.

1. By acknowledging and praising God as substance. Metaphysically, praise is the quality of mind that eulogizes the good; one of the avenues through which spirituality expresses. (RW/praise)
2. the mind is opened to ideas inhering in substance. The mind is the seat of perception of the things we see, hear, and feel. It is through the mind that we see the beauties of the earth and sky, of music, of art, in fact, of everything. That silent shuttle of thought working in and out through cell and nerve weaves into one harmonious whole the myriad moods of mind, and we call it life. (RW/mind)
3. which then flow into consciousness. Consciousness is the knowledge or realization of any idea, object, or condition. The sum total of all ideas accumulated in and affecting our present being. The composite of ideas, thoughts, emotions, sensation, and knowledge that makes up the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious phases of mind. It includes all that we are aware of—spirit, soul, and body. It is very important to understand the importance of our consciousness in spiritual growth. Divine ideas must be incorporated into our consciousness before they can mean anything to us. An intellectual concept does not suffice. To be satisfied with an intellectual understanding leaves us subject to sin, sickness, poverty, and death. To assure continuity of spirit, soul, and body as a whole, we must ever seek to incorporate divine ideas into our mind. (RW/consciousness)
4. as a great stream of bounty. Through an inherent law of mind action we increase whatever we praise. The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad. Animals and children quickly respond to praise. One can praise a weak body into strength, a fearful heart into peace and trust, shattered nerves into poise and power, a failing business into prosperity and success, want and insufficiency into supply and support. (RW/praise)

How may one become conscious of substance?

11. In the first lesson we learned that God is everywhere equally present, conscious union1 between God and man is made within the mind or consciousness of man. Man realizes all of God's attributes or ideas only as he gets still and comes into conscious union with Him in the "secret place." – Psalms 91:1. So it is with substance; the only way to know about substance for oneself is to go within and get direct conscious union with it by affirming its presence, its reality, its power, and the possibilities that it contains for man. This may be done by using "I AM" affirmations, which is the right use of the creative power of God, the I AM, the Word or Christ. Then substance will be seen with the eye of faith.2 "Faith is the perceiving power of the mind, linked with a power to shape substance. . . in other words, faith is that consciousness in us of the reality of the invisible substance and the attributes of mind by which we lay hold of it." – Charles Fillmore Prosperity 43. In this way man becomes conscious of substance as a living reality3 which he can intelligently direct and wisely use to satisfy his every need.

1. conscious union. [Conscious union, used three times in this paragraph, appears in dozens of Metaphysical Bible and Revealing Word entries. In most cases it refers to an alignment of all phases of our mind with the Mind of God in "the secret place of the Most High." See MBD/Beulah and listen to a beautiful recording.]
2. the eye of faith. [The term eye of faith is also in several Revealing Word entries:] eye, single is the searching quality of mind with keen observation that selects only that which is good. The single eye is open and receptive only to the guiding light of Spirit. (RW/eye). "Sometimes we pray to a God outside of ourselves. It is the God in the midst of us that frees and heals. With our eye of faith we must see God in our flesh, see that wholeness for which we are praying in every part of the body temple." (Myrtle Fillmore, Healing Letters, Prayer)
3. conscious of substance as a living reality. The secret of the Law lies in one's consciousness. Our life consists not in the abundance of all the things we possess, but in the consciousness of that which we have. (Raymond Holliwell, Working with the Law-The Law of Supply. School of Christian Philosophy, 1964)

Give three affirmations of your own for the realization of divine substance

12. One should not be kept from acknowledging substance because he is not at first conscious of it; he should affirm its presence because he has the understanding that it is.1 God did not create the universe out of nothing, but out of His very own Spirit substance. Man cannot make something out of nothing. The clearer his understanding of substance out of which he makes things, the better he will be able to bring forth whatever good he desires. Then he will not be deceived by the thought that things are the source of his good.

"The spiritual substance from which comes all visible wealth is never depleted. It is right with you all the time and responds to your faith in it and your demands upon it. It is not affected by our ignorant talk of hard times, though we are affected because our thoughts and words govern our demonstration. The unfailing resource is always ready to give. It has no choice; it must give, for that is its nature. Pour your living words of faith into the omnipresent substance, and you will be prospered, . . . turn the great energy of your thinking upon 'plenty' ideas, and you will have plenty regardless of what men about you are saying or doing." – Charles Fillmore Prosperity 13.

13. Substance never fails. It is as eternal as God is eternal, and is always ready for man's use.2 It is the "inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." – I Pet. 1:4. It means something to inherit from God, and happy are they who can say with understanding, "All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine." — John 16:15.

14. It was out of substance that Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.3 He understood it as all-potential, everywhere present, and intelligent and instantly responsive. He had faith in it and he showed by His example that it can be brought forth into manifestation by prayer and thanksgiving.

1. is. Note that the text does not say substance exists. That would imply impermanence. "Emilie Cady explains the pervasiveness of divinity in two sentences, each two words long—God is. Man exists" (TruthUnity Introduction to Lessons In Truth).
2. “Substance can be converted, transmuted, and changed in a million ways, but it can never be destroyed.” (Raymond Holliwell, Working with the Law, The Law of Supply. School of Christian Philosophy, 1964)
3. The "loaves" represent substance, and the "fishes" are ideas of increase (MBD/loaves-and-fishes). See Fillmore Study Bible commentary for Matthew 15:32-39.

Explain fully the law of giving and receiving

15. We live, move, and have our being in the sea of substance. There is a law that substance must have both an inflow and an outflow;1 this we call the law of giving and receiving. Substance flows into consciousness where it is given form according to the faith and the understanding of the receiver; then it must be given out in blessing in whatever form he is able to express it.

16. People sometimes say, "I have nothing to give," but they do not make such statements after they come into the understanding of Spirit substance. There is Spirit substance in words of Truth, and one may begin giving it in that form.2 Those who seem not to have in hand the good with which they desire to bless others can give that good in words and the outward manifestations will come. There is, therefore, a good reason why one should pray for others. If he affirms good for them, he is praying; and "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." – James 5:16.

17. The substance of true words is seed, and the harvest will be rich with increase to all who recognize that their seed words contain life, substance and intelligence. These constructive, joyous, praise-filled qualities in words of Truth make them powerful in demonstrating prosperity, health, protection, guidance, or whatever else is desired. Prosperity is the law of increase in action.3 To make practical use of this knowledge of the power in words, enter the inner consciousness and there speak directly to God within, and realize or feel the truth of words such as these:

Dear Father God, I have faith in Your ideas as the source and the substance of all my good. I have faith in this substance as it is now manifesting in me and in my affairs. I have increased bounty through my increasing faith in You, dear God as my Father and my support and supply. I praise and bless You, O Spirit of Plenty, for the fullness of Your supply.4 I am free from the care and the burden of thoughts of lack because I am quickened to the consciousness of abundance of all good. I praise and give thanks dear Father God, for this freedom. I have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. Your ideas are my inheritance, O blessed Spirit of Plenty.

18. The fact that there is a law of giving and receiving needs emphasis, because many have hindered their demonstrations of prosperity by an unwillingness to give, while others have shut off their supply by an unwillingness to receive. The first fault is usually caused either by selfishness or by a belief in lack; the second fault by pride of some form. Whatever may be the error the overcomer must change his thinking and feeling in regard to substance and his relation to it. This is done by a conscious practice of denial, affirmation, meditation aand prayer. Selfishness is overcome by giving up the false concept of the source of all good and by realizing that the great universal substance is free and open to him and to all persons. Pride is a form of selfishness.5 Beliefs of lack are eliminated by the recognition of the one substance, everywhere present constantly responsive to all demands made upon it.

19. Prosperity comes, not by chance, but in accordance with absolute laws. There is no such thing as luck.6 The law is universal and even those who are ignorant of spiritual things sometimes blindly set it into operation for a time. Such an experience they call a "streak of luck." If they would study the law and obey it intelligently and willingly, it would work for them continually and their prosperity would be permanent. They would not judge prosperity by the outward appearance, but by the inward consciousness of plenty, and thus they would be satisfied; the outer would correspond to the inner and there would no longer be an appearance of lack.

1. inflow and an outflow. Eric Butterworth and many others have quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson's “Every man is the inlet and may become the outlet of all there is in God.” Prosperity requires a state of being where we are an outlet of all there is in God, one who is giving.
2. There is Spirit substance in words of Truth, and one may begin giving it in that form. We can free people from bondage with words originating from Spirit. See Matthew 16:13-20: Peter affirmed Jesus with words of truth and Jesus declared that Peter's affirmation had loosed on earth what had been bound in heaven. Six days later Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17).
3. Prosperity is the law of increase in action. This is why Catherine Ponder teaches The Law of Increase. She writes, "When speaking of someone, speak in terms of their success only. If you know of someone who has been making a comeback from past mistakes, contribute in his unfolding success by ignoring his past and emphasizing only his present good."
4. for the fullness of Your supply. This prayer refers to providence as "First Cause". Our calling forth prosperity is "Second Cause." See paragraph 5 above. Is it not possible that Faith, Imagination, Will, Understanding, Life and Renunciation are innate powers endowed in God's "first act" so that we might perfect our powers of Order, Strength, Wisdom, Love, Power and Zeal in our "second act"? See what Thomas Aquinas has to say about our twelve powers.
5. Pride is a form of selfishness. [The humble are able to receive; not so for the proud.] Pride is a form of personal vanity over spiritual achievement; a proud personal spirit; a "holier than thou" attitude (RW/pride). True humility is needed very much in the Christ-centered individual. The true Christian is humble. We know the nothingness of our lesser self and the allness of [our inner] Christ. Recognition [of our lesser] self is ineffectual. (RW/humility) "I can of myself do nothing" (John 5:30). [Affirm with Jesus,] "The Father abiding in me doeth his works" (John 14:10).
6. There is no such thing as luck. But there is such as thing as "being lucky" if we consider God's first act in creating an abundant universe.

How may we overcome worry about supply?

20. All anxiety concerning supply1 is removed by knowing God as the Source of supply. Health is another form of prosperity, and it would in many cases spring forth speedily if anxiety were overcome, because many people suffer both in mind and in body from belief in lack and from consequent worry. The habit of praise for the fullness and richness of God's bounty will lift men out of a consciousness of lack caused by not knowing God as Father and supply.

21. In the past it was generally believed that it was God's will for men to be sick and poor; but great light has come to the race, and such errors are fast being dispelled. God's promises of prosperity are so numerous in the Bible that it seems strange that they could have been overlooked.2 It is sometimes said that Jesus was poor, but such a word is surely a misnomer when applied to a man who could demonstrate supply as Jesus demonstrated it. Doubtless He had true riches – the consciousness filled with ideas of God as substance, and He lived in conscious union with God.

1. All anxiety concerning supply Emilie Cady's chapter on Trusting and Resting in How I Used Truth has much to say about 'suppressed anxiety'. In the matter of God as our supply, or any other side of the divine law that we, from time to time, attempt to bring into manifestation, the moment we begin to be anxious our quiet becomes simply the airtight valve of tension or suppressed anxiety that shuts out the very thing we are trying to bring about, and so prevents its manifestation.
2. God's promises of prosperity ... have been overlooked. There are some things that we are to do ourselves, but there are others that God does not expect us to do. They are His part, and our greatest trouble lies in our trying to do God's part, just because we have not learned how to trust Him to do it.

Why does the apparent source of income sometimes stand in the way of one's knowing God as his bountiful and ever present supply?

22. While yet in an unenlightened state, the mind sometimes firmly holds the belief that supply can come only in a certain way. The channel is looked upon as the source.1 External supply, such as the weekly wage or the income derived in other ways, assumes large proportions in the mind and shuts out the consciousness of God as the Source of supply. This state of mind can be changed by denial of the error and by affirmation of the Truth.

1. The channel is looked upon as the source. Next to the law of giving and receiving, this may be the most important metaphysical teaching on prosperity.

What is the true object of all work?

23. One should not think that the world owes him a "living," that he should not work. Such a one needs to come into a true understanding of work and of life itself. Jesus said, "My Father worketh even until now and I work" (John 5:17). Life is, we are living now. "God gave unto us eternal life" (I John 5:11). How much one is living depends upon how conscious he is of his inherent abilities and powers, and the purpose of his work activity. All activity is work. God created the universe out of His own substance, and man forms his world out of the substance that is within him.1 The greater work is in the mind, and the work of the hand follows the work of the mind. By work of the hand we mean the whole outer activity. Man's chief work is to glorify God in all that he thinks, says and does. Then the work of the mind should be to bring forth spiritual powers increasingly, to bring into expression the true riches of Divine Mind which are ideas of abundant life, abundant joy, abundant wisdom, abundant love, abundant prosperity. When one comes into the consciousness that every word, every act he performs is really a part of himself – his expression – and that he is either giving forth a slovenly, unlovely, imperfect individuality or a beautiful, perfected type of Being from the substance that is within him, he will then seek for the ideal that is within his seemingly menial tasks, that he may bring forth the perfection that will glorify God and be an enjoyment to himself and to all. He will have a true understanding of work and he will be living life "more abundantly" (John 10:10). Every thought molds the fertile substance of mind. You work, work, work even at your laziest moments, for your thoughts are the tools that fashion your life. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return" (Gen. 3:19), or come into the understanding of what you are and how to use the mind-substance within2 you and bring forth the likeness of Him in whose image you were created. As Angela Morgan so aptly puts it in her poem:

Work!
Thank God for the might of it,
The ardor, the urge, the delight of it;
Work that springs from the heart's desire,
Setting the brain and the soul on fire -
Oh, what is so good as the heat of it,
And what is so glad as the beat of it,
And what is so kind as the stern command,
Challenging brain and heart and hand?
Thank God for a world where none may shirk -
Thank God for the splendor of work!

24. The true object of work is the expression of all of man's God-given faculties and powers and service to his fellowman. The race is a unit and every man is under obligation to all men. This obligation is not an arbitrary matter fixed by some tyrannical God or by some unfeeling law; it is the obligation of love. Love is the law that unifies the race and adjusts all people in righteousness and establishes harmonious relations.3 Discords come from violation of the law of love; when men work for a living instead of for the purpose of expressing their powers in righteousness and rendering loving service to their fellowmen, they interfere with the operation of divine law.

25. Co-operation instead of competition4 is the secret of success, because co-operation fulfills the law of love.

1. God created the universe out of His own substance, and man forms his world out of the substance that is within him. Another reference to "primal" and "secondary" cause. See paragraph 5 and paragraph 17, footnote 4.
2. how to use the mind-substance within you. A unique metaphysical expression.
3. Love is the law that unifies the race and adjusts all people in righteousness and establishes harmonious relations. Notice that righteousness, defined as a state of harmony established in consciousness (RW/righteousness) is not only an internal state. It is also, as used here, a state of social and interpersonal state.
4. competition. Taking competition as a sign of success ... counts only in the realm of worldly getting and competition beating. That is where they make their mark, but in the realm of spiritual attainment, they are not needed, not a bit. (Ed Rabel, New Testament Lectures, Jesus Rejoices)

What has faithfulness to do with demonstrating prosperity?

26. Sometimes prosperity is not demonstrated because of unfaithfulness in work. The reason is not that labor is the source of prosperity, but man has not worked in harmony with the law of loving service. Whatever the work may be, the whole heart should be put into it1 and it should be well done. Fault-finding, complaint, or dissatisfaction with one's occupation makes a poor workman. When dissatisfied with one's work, one cannot do his best. The compensation is poor because he has not observed the law of giving and receiving. "You demonstrate prosperity by an understanding of the prosperity law and by having faith in it, not by appealing to the sympathy of others, trying to get them to do something for you or give you something. Faithftilness and earnestness in the application of the prosperity law will assure you of success" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 50). "In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:6).

1. Whatever the work may be, the whole heart should be put into it. How we work is more important than how much we work.
2. You demonstrate prosperity ... by having faith in it. See Fillmore Wings, Series 2, Lesson 8, Faith.

What is the relation of praise1 to the manifestation of supply?

27. If you cannot see in the work you are doing an opportunity to help others, change your work; but unless you are doing that which is directly harmful to men you can always feel that in some respect, however slight, you are benefiting mankind. The woman who makes clothes, the man who farms, and the miller who grinds are all doing their share of the world's work. Do your part and be glad. If you are not doing so much as you would like to do, rejoice and give thanks for the privilege of doing the little and the larger opportunity will come – but it never can come through your finding fault with your opportunities. Blessing and praising the good increase your consciousness of good. Praise is cumulative. Man magnifies and expands that which his mind dwells upon with approval.2 As he mentally sees how valuable anything good is, it naturally increases in worth.

28. The law of giving and receiving is innate in man's being,3 as is shown by even his blind attempts to observe it. If another does something for him he feels the obligation to do something in return. The use of money is a blind attempt to keep the law of giving and receiving, and it is a convenient means in the present stage of the world's advancement. If Mr. Smith renders a service to Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones may not be prepared to return the favor directly, but he gives to Mr. Smith a certain sum of money representing his idea of the value received from Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith can use the money to make a satisfactory exchange with some other man for something he needs. So it goes on right under our eyes all the time; the law of giving and receiving is being used, though not always in its perfection. When men fully understand the law of giving and receiving and their relation to one another, they will know that ideas and not money are the means of fulfilling the law4 and they will demonstrate that "love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10).

29. "Love is one of those ideas which provides a key to the infinite storehouse of abundance. It opens up generosity in us. It opens up generosity in others when we begin to love and bless them. Will it also open up a spirit of generosity in God? It certainly will and does. If you consciously love and bless God, you will soon find that things are coming your way. It will surprise you that just thinking about God will draw to you the things you want5 and expect and bring many other blessings that you had not even thought about. Thousands of persons have proved this law to their entire satisfaction . . . This law will demonstrate itself for you or for anyone who applies it faithfully, for 'love never faileth.' (I Corinthians 13:8)" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 108).

30. Money is not an evil in itself; it is the selfish use of money that makes trouble. Money is not a curse to those who see the place that it fills and keep it in its place. "Money was made for man and not man for money" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 184). When they know that substance and not money is the source of their good, they will not be grasping and selfish. The term "uncertain riches,"6 refers to the possession of things apart from the consciousness of one substance as the source of all; "uncertain" possessions are the ones that cause vexation and sorrow.

31. As men come into the consciousness of the universal law they will give in love and receive in love, and everybody will be satisfied with that method of keeping the law. Instead of considering money as a cold, hard, material thing, see it as formed substance, the symbol of the inexhaustible idea of substance and the means that men are using to keep the divine law of giving and receiving. Money is not to be hoarded, but is to be kept moving.7 All who understand true prosperity keep the law of giving and receiving. All who take the right attitude toward money have plenty of it. It flows into their hands in a constant stream of blessing. They know that it is formed substance, the symbol of the inexhaustible idea of substance, and they come to understand and use money wisely as a medium of exchange.

1. Praise. See Fillmore Wings, Series 2, Lesson 7, Prayer and Praise.
2. Praise is cumulative. Man magnifies and expands that which his mind dwells upon with approval. Praise magnifies because it is "one of the avenues through which spirituality expresses itself. Through an inherent law of mind, we increase whatever we praise. The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad." (Charles Fillmore, Christian Healing, Spirituality or Prayer and Praise 78)
3. Giving and receiving is innate in man's being. And hoarding and refusing to accept gifts diminishes the soul.
4. Ideas and not money are the means of fulfilling the law. "We baptize not with water but with Spirit" (TruthUnity, Is Unity Christian, Does It Matter?, handwritten document fragment found in the Charles Fillmore papers at Unity Archives.)
5. just thinking about God will draw to you the things you want. "Don't think about the problem, think about God. This is one of the most widely quoted of Emmet Fox's ideas" (Eric Butterworth, Antecedents of New Thought, Emmet Fox/Ernest Holmes)
6. "uncertain riches." See Fillmore Study Bible commentary for First Timothy 6:17. True richness is having what we need when we need it, and the very knowing of this Truth is also a source of great enrichment for our minds and souls. Our own Spirit-led will (Paul) charges and reminds us to beware of setting our hope on uncertain and temporary things, but that we should rather set our minds upon God, “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
7. Money is not to be hoarded, but is to be kept moving. Spiritual circulation is he inner stream of life, substance, and intelligence flowing freely through the entire being (RW/circulation).

When you give to another or do something for him, why should you trust divine law for recompense, rather than expect compensation from him?

32. In the matter of giving, it is well to remember that the law1 of giving and receiving is universal and not personal. You should not be disappointed if those to whom you give do not recompense2 you, and you should not be anxious because you feel that you cannot give to those who do something for you. The law will take care of all that. The unchangeable law is, "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38). The exact way in which the return shall come is not specified. If you serve your neighbor, it may be that the most direct way for you to receive will be for him to do something for another.

"We must not try to fix the avenues through which our good is to come. There is no reason for thinking that what you give will come back through the one to whom you give it ... The law will bring each of us just what is our own, the reaping of the seeds we have sown. The return will come, for it cannot escape the law, though it may quite possibly come through a very different channel from what we expect. Trying to fix the channel through which his good must come to him is one of the ways in which the personal man shuts off his own supply. The spiritual-minded man does not make selfish use of the law but gives because he loves to give. Because he gives with no thought of reward and no other motive than love, he is thrown more completely into the inevitable operation of the law and his return is all the more certain. He is inevitably enriched and cannot escape it." (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 143-144)

1. law. Metaphysically, a divine law or law of God is the orderly working out of the principle of Being, or the divine ideals, into expression and manifestation throughout creation (MBD/law). [As used here, the law creates a flow of good. See the next annotation to understand why the flow will come to the giver, perhaps from a different channel.]
2. Recompense. Metaphysically, recompense is the satisfaction and uplift that one feels after a realization of Truth (RW/recompense). [This uplift radiates from the giver a force of attraction.] "I like to think of this basic law of prosperity as radiation and attraction: that which you radiate outward in your thoughts, feelings, mental pictures, and words, you attract into your life and affairs." (Catherine Ponder, The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity 29)

How would you build a consciousness of prosperity?

33. In this lesson, ideas have been presented to help one build a prosperity consciousness and the first step in this activity is a desire1 to come into a feeling of conscious oneness with God, Divine Mind, Omnipresent substance, the Source of all good, and the basis of all supply. All men, to some extent, desire to have an abundance of good, to have peace of mind, and health of body, but they have not realized that all these have their foundation in God, and that they cannot have the gift without the Giver. So the first step in building a prosperity consciousness is to recognize the importance of desiring to have a conscious feeling of oneness with the infinite resource, which is God, Absolute Good.

As one heeds the call of his heart's desire, he will turn within to his own indwelling Father, the great storehouse of divine ideas, the kingdom of God, and make this his abiding place.2 He will consciously abide or stay in that place within himself and make conscious union with the idea of divine substance. He will contemplate substance, he will meditate upon it, he will affirm its presence and through the right use of the creative power of God which can be directed by his thoughts, feelings and words, he will, in faith, begin to image himself molding and shaping the everpresent substance of mind, or "thought stuff" into peace of mind, health of body and an abundance of all good of which he feels that is needful to him and to others. In faith he sees himself as well and happy, peaceful and joyous.

He praises God for his ability to recognize and to feel the goodness in which he is abiding. He praises God for divine substance that fills every need. He praises and gives thanks to God3 for the right attitudes of mind that are now flooding into his mind and heart, feelings of kindness, generosity, love and appreciation for all persons and things. His world begins to change. He has that feeling of well-being in every phase of his life, for there is no lack of any good thing in his life. He understands his source of all good and he knows that "All things whatsoever the Father hath," (John 16:15), are his to use, to enjoy and to share.

34. The more conscious one grows of God as the inexhaustible, everywhere present substance that is instantly responsive to any demand made upon it, the less he will feel limited in any way. He will know that he is blessed with the great privilege of giving and of sharing this substance with all people. He will give freely and cheerfully of his consciousness of abundance, of peace, joy and good-will. His very life will be a blessing to all who come in contact with him. He will have the right attitude toward God, toward himself and the world in general and it has been said that the whole universe is behind the one who has the right attitude, and we know that God is behind the universe sustaining it in divine substance.4

35. "Peace, Power, and Plenty,
Words that are heaven born
Say them, ye hearts that are weary,
Till hope in your soul is born.
For words are things that will lift on wings
The one that believes them true,
And whatever you will when your mind is still
You may call to the soul of you."
   — Henry Victor Morgan

36. God bless you, dear one, as you give your thought and word power to building a consciousness of prosperity, which is the consciousness of eternal well-being here and now.

37. "Spirit substance everywhere,

Waiting for us to mold;
With Christ Jesus we can share

Treasures of worth untold.
Words and thoughts have molding power,

So let us careful be,

Knowing that we are building our eternity."

Verse three, #128, Unity Song Selections

1. the first step in this activity is a desire. Emilie Cady’s Theology of Desire may be one of the two or three most important theological innovations of the past 120 years. It’s all laid out in Chapter 5 of the original edition of Lessons in Truth (on Faith) and it is wonderfully elaborated upon by Vera Dawson Tait’s commentary on that chapter. (TruthUnity, Why We should Be Preaching Emilie Cady’s Theology of Desire)
2. and make this his abiding place. This conscious knowledge of an indwelling God which we so crave is that of which Paul wrote to the Colossians as “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest. ... Christ in you the hope of glory.” The “Secret place of the Most High” where each one of us may dwell and be safe from all harm or fear of evil is the point of Mystical Union between soul (or conscious mind) and Spirit (or God in us) wherein we no longer believe but we know that God in Christ abides always at the centre of our being, as our perfect health, deliverance, prosperity, power; ready to come forth at any moment we claim It into manifestation. We know it. We know it. We feel our Oneness with the Father, and we manifest this oneness. (Emilie Cady, Lessons In Truth, The Secret Place of the Most High.)
3. He praises and gives thanks to God. Praise is but another name for prayer, or one of the forms of prayer. It is that form which recognizes the object of our desires as already in existence. We should pray as if we had already received, and praise is acknowledgment of possession. (Mrs. A.A. Pearson, Praise, Unity Tract, to be read as part of this lesson on Prosperity.)
4. God is behind the universe sustaining it in divine substance. This inexhaustible mind substance is available at all times and in all places to those who have learned to lay hold of it in consciousness. The simplest, shortest, and most direct way of doing this was explained when Jesus said, "Whosoever ... shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass, he shall have it." When we know that certain potent ideas exist in the invisible mind expressions, named by science both "ether" and "space" and that we have been provided with the mind to lay hold of them, it is easy to put the law into action through thought and word and deed. (Charles Fillmore, Prosperity, Lesson One pp.12-13, part of Jim Gaither's The Essential Charles Fillmore)

1. What is prosperity? Explain fully.

Prosperity is a rich state of mind. It is the enrichment man gains both inwardly and outwardly through the right use of divine ideas.

Man has accumulated much goods, money, and lands, the acquisition of which has often brought only responsibility, worry, sorrow, and unrest. The growing consciousness of divine ideas brings joy, satisfaction, and peace. True prosperity comes to the individual through an understanding that within and around him is the one creative Mind substance, Spirit, the presence of God, containing ideas which are like seeds waiting to be planted in the soil of the human consciousness. These seed-ideas produce the forms that fulfill all man's needs. If man is to become prosperous he must first become rich in his consciousness through right thought activity. This is done by releasing divine ideas into the consciousness just as seeds are released or planted in the soil.

Man is the "image of God" and his mission on earth is to express and manifest God. To do this he must identify himself with God, with the Mind essence or substance that is God, and release the wealth of ideas that make up the God-nature. Manifest man is prosperous when he has peace of mind, an understanding heart, and joy and satisfaction in handling his affairs. He achieves these attitudes through knowing the one Creative Mind as his unfailing supply and support.

2. What is substance?

Substance is the unformed Mind essence out of which every form is produced. It is also termed Omnipresence because it is the presence of God interpenetrating all creation. It is the Mind essence in which "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). This substance is of such rarefied nature that it is not tangible to the physical eye of manifest man. However, through the power of thought this Mind essence can be cognized. It can then be formed by man's conscious and subconscious (thinking and feeling) phases of mind, and the resultant manifestations are recognized by the senses. It is through his acceptance in thinking and feeling that man becomes conscious of substance as the living presence of God. This Presence sustains, provides, protects, and is the ever available source of visible supply for all creation, not just for man.

Substance is the "raw material" out of which all things are made. It is the spiritual aggregation of all the ideas (also termed qualities or attributes) of God. Divine Substance is the universal supply of good for all creation. Thus, it is the source of all that is manifest or yet unmanifest.

(Added references: Lessons in Truth Lesson 2 Annotation 7 and How I Used Truth Lesson 10 Annotation 5.)

3. What is matter? What is the distinction between substance and matter?

Matter is formed substance. It is the form or appearance of Mind essence. In man's individual life, matter, the form or shape that substance takes in the physical realm, is dependent upon his degree of understanding and use of substance. Webster's dictionary defines matter as, "That of which any physical object is composed."

The distinction between substance and matter is that substance, the invisible Mind essence, never changes. It is without form and shape. Matter is form; it is the shape that substance takes as it appears in the manifest realm. In man's life, the form or shape is the result of his beliefs and his power to name his conceptions. Manifest man as the offspring of God is endued with the power of the thought-word; he names and gives character to all the ideas of Divine Mind, and these in turn take form or shape in the visible world.

Matter is what we see and handle with our five senses, the result of our concept of substance. Matter is substance condensed so that it is visible in a three-dimensional world. Matter is called "unreal" because the form, as such, may be changed, while substance is changeless, thus the "real."

The distinction lies in the fact that substance is the lasting, enduring essence, while matter is the temporary form that substance has taken to fulfill some purpose in creation.

4. What relation does divine substance bear to man's supply?

Divine substance is the basis of man's supply, whether he is aware of it or not. Substance is the source, the great reservoir of unexpressed good in the form of divine ideas. These ideas are the spiritual patterns that when rightly used will mold the substance to produce man's supply as food, shelter, employment, success, harmony, health, any good he desires. (See Lessons in Truth Lesson 2 Annotation 7.)

Man is a channel through which the blessings (ideas) of God may flow; but he does not become a truly effective channel until he has received the revelation of himself as a son of God, heir to the ideas that make up divine substance. Man's health, happiness, abundance -- his supply of all good -- are related so directly to divine substance that any attempt to gain them in any other way results in failure. All the unhappiness that mankind suffers comes from man's belief in supply as being separate from him, and obtainable only outside of himself. When man realizes that divine substance is the only basis for his supply, he then begins to claim that which is his by divine right. He learns to use his faculty of imagination to form a "mental equivalent" of the good he desires. His supply, whether it be some good for mind, body, or affairs, is then attracted to him through the action of his own mind moving upon substance. Man makes the choice as to the manner in which he will combine divine ideas and divine substance. If he allows himself to be guided by God, then he will build the right "mental equivalents" to bring forth his supply of good.

5. Explain the meaning of the Scripture, "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).

A kingdom implies a sovereign ruling power, in this case the will, law, of God in authority, having dominion over manifest man's whole being. "His kingdom" is God indwelling, or the realm of divine ideas in man which is within and around manifest man. By these words of Scripture Jesus was directing man's vision God-ward, to divine ideas. He knew that manifest man often looks to the world of appearances as the source of his good. He knew also that supply could not be secured in that way. The kingdom of God or "his kingdom" means the perfect ideas of the entire God-nature. By seeking first these ideas and using them righteously, manifest man becomes poised and balanced, so that he attains the dominion that his soul craves. Then "all these things shall be added" to fulfill his life. Such "seeking" includes an understanding of the law of form and environment. He who comes consciously into "his kingdom" understands the nature of substance and how the Word of God moves in and upon universal substance to produce the visible forms of good or "these things added."

Jesus, as a manifest man, knew how to contact the true source within Himself. He showed man the way to realize ("seek ye first") and bring forth his divine birthright. Through prayer man enters "his kingdom," God within him, and lays hold of its seed-ideas, learns their nature, and makes them a conscious part of his own human consciousness or mind. Man's aim should be to use divine ideas for the highest good. The Father then supplies his every need ("and all these things shall be added unto you").

"In the inmost center of every man the indwelling Christ resides .... In this inner realm you will find the spiritual ethers (light) heavily charged with ideas that turn to spiritual substance. As your consciousness (awareness) expands, you touch the everlasting truths and you find that every blessing is abundantly added" (Keep a True Lent 11).

6. What is the truth back of the command, "Lay not up . . . treasures" (Matt. 6:19)?

The command, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth" (Matt. 6:19), has back of it the truth that man is not to look upon effects, forms, and treat them as though they are causes. It is a warning to those who put their trust first in "things" rather than in divine ideas which inhere in God substance that produce the "things." Things that are manifested as results are destructible, changeable, hence temporary; but divine ideas are permanent heavenly riches in man's divine nature. Divine ideas are above the laws of physical disintegration. The man who lives only in the confines of personal consciousness can accumulate vast possessions; but "things" so accumulated are uncertain in their tenure. Of themselves they do not convey the peace and happiness, the sucurity and freedom that man really seeks. However, when "his kingdom" is sought first, the ideas of that kingdom satisfy man's soul and produce the things as a natural course of events. Then man is able to appreciate the "things" as the outer forms of God ideas.

The truth back of the command, "Lay not up . . . treasures," is that divine substance (with the inhering ideas) is forever omnipresent, so outer forms need not be hoarded. Man in touch with God's constant, adequate bounty (divine substance) needs seek no other source of supply for the ideas inhering in substance can produce all the outer supply that man needs. The heavenly treasure (ideas) is a hidden treasure. The "hiddenness" may be explored and the treasure possessed in mind, together with its outer, visible form, by anyone who, forsaking the old way, is ready to give the new way a trial.

7. How may we become conscious of substance?

Primarily, we are conscious of anything when we feel it within our own being. Our soul is composed of the substance of God; therefore, all the God elements (ideas) are inherent within us in a latent or potential state, awaiting the soul's claim upon them.

Mentally, we may become conscious of substance through meditation, affirmation, contemplation, concentration, which result in the illumination that comes through the Silence bringing the light of understanding, or knowing, in our own human consciousness.

Spiritually we may become conscious of substance by entering our "inner chamber" and seeking an understanding of the law that governs the use of substance for the good of all creation. In "the secret place of the Most High" (Psalms 91:1) within us, we identify ourselves with the nature or substance of God by dwelling in thought and feeling on the reality of substance which contains the underlying elements (ideas) of Being. We must come to the understanding of ourselves as fundamentally and elementally all that the nature of God is, because we were created in the "image" and after "the likeness" of God. We need to behold the one creative Spirit as the only Source and know our oneness with it.

Recognizing the source, God indwelling, ("his kingdom"), we affirm the presence of divine substance in and around us. We claim its power to clothe our thoughts with that which is substantial and lasting. With every silent thought and every spoken word we are "telling" the omnipresent substance what to do, and it carries out whatever commands we project into it. Understanding of the law governing substance leads to faith in it. Faith becomes assurance and conviction; acknowledgment develops into praise of God as the one source of substance and ourselves as heir to it.

8. Give three affirmations of your own for the realization of divine substance.

Here are some examples:

"I LOOK TO GOD AS MY SOURCE OF SUPPLY, AND HIS SUBSTANCE MANIFESTS ABUNDANTLY FOR ME WHEREVER I AM."

"RICH IDEAS FILL MY CONSCIOUSNESS AND OVERFLOW INTO MY AFFAIRS AS ABUNDANT PROSPERITY."

"I AM ONE WITH GOD. HIS SUBSTANCE MANIFESTS IN AN EVER-INCREASING STREAM OF SUPPLY IN MY LIFE AND AFFAIRS."

(These affirmations can be made more personal by making them direct prayers addressed to God; e.g., "Father, I look to Thee as my source of supply, and Thy substance manifests abundantly for me wherever I am.")

9. What is the law of giving and receiving?

The law of giving and receiving is the law of balance.

"There is a law of giving and receiving ... it is a law of mind action, and it can be learned and applied the same as any other law . . . The law of giving and receiving that Jesus taught, 'Give, and it shall be given unto you,' is found to be applicable to all our commercial as well as our social relationships" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 145,146)

In his true being man is both producer and consumer. Unless he maintains a balance between the two he produces discord and in-harmony. It is a spiritual law as well as sound economics that balance is necessary in every phase of experience. Where man seeks to retain more than he can use, he causes not only disease (lack of ease) in his own being, but he also upsets the balance for the rest of creation. All humanity are members of one body and therefore interdependent. Jesus' statement of the law of giving and receiving, as mentioned in the quotation, "Give, and it shall be given unto you," is very clear and admits of no doubt as to the receiving when the prerequisite of giving has been completed.

The law of giving and receiving is the universal law of supply and demand. It is the law of reciprocity between God and His creation, including man. God is the source of all of man's good (divine ideas), and man's own consciousness must be the outlet that allows these ideas to produce his outer supply in the forms of health of body, food to sustain his body, shelter to house himself and his family, education, and all the many things that make for the "abundant life."

As man learns to keep the outlet in his own life open through giving to his fellow man, to creation in general, he has cleared the inlet that allows more of God's blessings to flow into and through him. When man realizes that he is a chosen channel for distributing God's good, he does all that he can through prayer, through right thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting to make of himself a worthy channel. He becomes a conscious co-worker with God to bring His kingdom on the earth.

While it is true that man must first receive of God, giving becomes his first act as a co-worker with God, as a son in partnership with his Father. Because giving is only one part of the law, the receiving or acceptance of more of God's blessings must follow. This is made possible through those moments of prayer when man enters the Silence and receives the inspiration of God through the revelation of divine ideas. These in turn are given forth in daily living and produce the harmonious conditions that make a "heaven" here on earth. If one attempts to receive from God, yet does not give in daily living the ideas he has received, he causes a damming of the channel. By the same token, if an individual gives, yet does not allow himself the moments of prayer whereby he may receive from God, there can be no inflow of the rich ideas to fulfill his needs. Soon the time will come when he finds he has nothing to give to himself or to other people either in ideas or substance. No one can give what he has not yet received in consciousness. He must receive divine ideas such as life, power, success, love, and so forth from God. Then he can form the "mental equivalents" in consciousness that can bring forth the manifest forms, or "these things . . . added."

10. What has the keeping of this law to do with the demonstration of supply?

The keeping of the law of giving and receiving makes possible the demonstration of supply.

If we fail to keep the law of giving and receiving, the consciousness becomes stagnant and tainted. The outlet is blocked by thoughts of fear, negligence, ignorance, selfishness, or some other error belief. These sins act as a dam in the stream of consciousness and stop the outflow of the good we are seeking. On the other hand, if the soul is closed through lack of faith in God, nothing can flow in to enrich it, and there will be nothing for the soul to give. The more we are able to give, the more we increase the consciousness of our supply. Life is consciousness toward knowing God, and knowing our fellowman.

Jesus communed often with the Father; but He also understood that His inspirations must be made practical in daily living on the earth. First, through prayer He talked with the Father; next, He mixed with the multitude, blessing them with the knowledge that He had received.

A man cannot open his mind to the inflow of the elements of divinity and at the same time not feel his nature respond in love toward his fellowmen. Neither can he be consciously one with the laws of Being and at the same time not feel at one with his fellow-men. Only as man understands the twofold nature of the law of giving and receiving, and keeps the law, will he experience true and lasting prosperity in all ways.

11. Is there any reality in the belief in "luck"? What is it that is called luck?

Luck implies something that comes to one by chance. As all things in the universe occur in a lawful and orderly sequence, there seems little opportunity for luck or accident. Every effect must partake of the nature of its cause. Without law and order the universe would be chaos.

The explanation for what is termed "luck" is plain to the one who understands the laws of mind and knows how they work. Just as there are specific laws in the domain of electricity, mathematics, chemistry, and the other sciences, so there are specific laws of mind. In the human consciousness, men operate under the mental law of what is termed cause and effect; that is, whatever the character of the cause that is put into operation, the effect will be like the cause which produced it.

When a human being has what he calls "good luck," his mind has been conforming to the laws of good, whether he is conscious of it or not. God, Absolute Good, can produce only that which is like His own nature. If a person has what he terms "bad luck," he has allowed his thoughts to dwell upon failure, sickness, unhappiness, or any negative belief or condition. In accord with the specific laws of mind, the mental causes that he puts into operation produce according to their kind. Like produces like. When man can hold the vision of abundant good as his rightful inheritance, that is what will be his portion. The good he reaps will not be according to "luck" but according to law.

12. How may we overcome worry about supply?

We overcome worry about supply by knowing first that God as substance is the source of our supply. We need to become acquainted with the divine ideas that inhere in this substance and learn to use them correctly in our thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting.

Overcome means to conquer, or to subdue. The overcoming referred to here must be done in our own consciousness, for it is the conquering or subduing of our own wrong thinking and feeling. Whatever we hold in our consciousness operates as a mental cause producing conditions of a like nature. If the beliefs we are holding in our mind are negative, then by the law of mind action, the conditions they produce will be negative.

Worry is giving the mind over to anxiety and fear. It is interesting to note that the root meaning of the word worry is "to strangle." Certainly, if there is worry over one's supply it has the effect of strangling the mind, keeping it obsessed by fear of lack, and there is no opportunity for God's good to flow in. It is true that God has already "given" a divine inheritance to man, but man has not really "received" it so long as he has not accepted it in consciousness. If there is worry over supply, then man has not accepted the Truth that God is the source of his supply. He may even have reached the point of recognizing God as the storehouse of all good, yet may not have recognized himself as entitled to that good.

The habit of prayer must become established in the individual if he would overcome worry about supply. Outer possessions cannot give a person the security that comes through knowing God as the one presence and power of good. Prayer becomes the line of communication between God and man, and without it man only stumbles in a maze of misconception. One writer said very aptly, "Worry is the 'don't-trust-God' disease."

(An added reference for this question is found in How I Used Truth Lesson 3 Annotation 10.)

13. Was Jesus poor?

No! He was wealthy with riches that the average individual is not fully aware of. Jesus did not need to possess "things" in order to enjoy or appreciate them. He found enjoyment in many simple ways overlooked by others. He saw in life healing and abundance where others saw a lack. Those who can see as Jesus did "inherit the earth" in a fuller sense than does the owners of land. Jesus wore a seamless robe so valued that after His crucifixion the soldiers cast lots for it. He was intimately acquainted with the omnipresent, omniscient substance of God-Mind, and so understood the omnipotent Word of God that He was able to speak the word of Truth and call forth what was needed to heal the sick, feed the multitude, pay the taxes. He told His disciples to do likewise, since the loving Father had given them this power also. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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 the Father" (John 14:12).

Poverty could have no place in Jesus' consciousness, for it is a state of mind that believes in separation from good. Jesus believed in oneness with God, the source of all good. It is true that Jesus lived the simple life. Charles Fillmore states in Prosperity:

"There is a great difference between the simple life and poverty. The two have been associated in the minds of some people, and this is the reason they shun the idea of the simple life. . . . All those who base their prosperity on possessions alone have a purely material prosperity which, though it may seem great for a time, will vanish because it is founded upon the changing of the external and has no root within the consciousness. The simple life is a state of consciousness. It is peace, contentment, and satisfaction in the joy of living and loving, and it is attained through thinking about God and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 106 - 108).

This was the secret of Jesus' wealth. He worshiped God in Spirit and in truth; He knew peace, contentment, satisfaction, joy, love because His mind was centered in God.

14. Why does the apparent source of income sometimes stand in the way of one's receiving a bountiful supply?

Unless one has understanding that God alone is the source of supply, the income one is receiving regularly may be viewed as a source, rather than a channel. Thus his attitude toward the income becomes an obstacle to receiving a bountiful supply. A regular income -- one's salary, dividends from investments or property -- can cause the recipient to become so used to it that he thinks that only as this arrives on its designated date will he be able to obtain the outer things that make up his life. When such an income is viewed as a channel only, and accepted as such, it continues to be one of the many channels God can use to bring His good into manifestation. We give our thanks to God as the source of all our good, but we must never fail to give our thanks also for the channels He uses to bring it forth.

Our faith should be centered in God substance which embodies the Ideas which are the spiritual patterns for everything that appears. To give our allegiance to the forms rather than to God who created the forms is to attempt to work the prosperity law backwards. The divine ideas need to be "planted" in our human consciousness to produce the "mental equivalents." This in turn will mold the substance into the desired visible good. Our thinking, feeling, and speaking become the tools that mold substance according to the divine patterns (ideas). By affirmation we lay hold of the ideas of abundance and they open many channels, not just the income with which we may be very familiar.

"The law of supply is a divine law. . . . when you continue to think about God as your real supply, everything in your mind begins to awaken and to contact the divine substance, and as you mold it in your consciousness, ideas begin to come which will connect you with the visible manifestation. You first get the ideas in consciousness direct from their divine source, and then you begin to demonstrate in the outer" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 67 - 68).

15. What has faithfulness to do with demonstrating prosperity?

Faithfulness has a great deal to do with demonstrating prosperity, for by its very nature faith "perceives" the good that man desires to demonstrate (show forth in his outer life), and it keeps him on the goal toward its attainment. Faithfulness to the ideal of prosperity prevents one from becoming "double-minded," as James points out: "But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting . . . let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6, 7). Only that which is faithfully done is well done and is Godlike. Whatever the work we have to do, we must make it an expression of the highest of ourselves. Our work must stand for the highest ideal we have of it, and we must make it a manifestation of our love for the perfect. "Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over manv things" (Matt. 25:21).

Man is the instrument through which godly ideals are expressed, and work is the process used to manifest them. Man should perform all services with love, faithfulness, and gratitude that he is able to do the work. Even if a person does not enjoy his work, he should be faithful in doing what he has to do. As he sees in his work an opportunity to use his divine resources, one of two things can occur: either he will come to enjoy what he is doing, or, if there is a better channel where he can serve, he will be moved into it harmoniously as long as he does his very best where he presently finds himself.

The fact that a person devotes himself faithfully to just and right purposes releases him from struggle and dissatisfaction, and he enters into amazing activity. He who works in accordance with divine principles is always joyously busy. He knows that he is really accomplishing something, for he realizes that he is about his Father's business.

16. What is the true object of all work?

Life is a school for our development physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually; and work is an avenue that allows for such accomplishment.

(a) Physically, work is the process that enables manifest man to use his abilities in service, or in the making of products for his own use. The excess is given to his neighbor in exchange for his neighbor's service or product. The aim is first expression and second, service.

(b) Mentally, the true object of all work is for the upliftment of mankind. It is to release divine ideas through right use of the thought process. Music, art, literature, drama, and the sciences are products of man's imagination as it channels the ideals of Spirit into expression.

(c) Morally, the object of all work is the development of soul powers. It is said that man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Thus the development of soul powers and their ever-increasing expression should accompany all true work. When we work to express God, instead of working for a mere living, we bless and magnify the good of our labor and find peace, contentment, and happiness along our way of usefulness.

(d) Spiritually, the true object of all work is to allow God to know Himself in His creation. God imaged Himself in all His perfection as spiritual man. This perfection is revealed to man through the Christ or I AM indwelling. The "living soul" evolves as a "life-giving spirit" (I Cor. 15:45), showing forth in the flesh the entire nature of God—abundant life, love, substance, joy, wisdom, peace, all good.

17. What is the relation of praise to the manifestation of supply?

Praise makes possible the manifestation of our supply in a number of ways. Praise is first of all the acknowledgment of good, or God, without which no good thing abides with us long. Praise, being acknowledgment of good, causes the consciousness to expand to encompass more good. The mind (thinking) and heart (feeling) are opened to higher aspirations through faith and our whole being is prepared to receive the good that is being moved into our life by praise. Not only does praise make us receptive, but it enables us to enjoy more of the goodness of God.

What we commend we focus our attention on, and our attending to it with love and gratitude increases its value to us. Holding the attitude of continual praise for God's goodness and love in and around us makes us more conscious of His presence and power. Praise increases in us a sense of the Fatherhood of God, and being a form of prayer, it enables us to talk to God in a personal way. Having recognized the Fatherhood of God, praise causes us to become aware of the brotherhood of man and we have a loving desire to share good with others. (For further reference see How I Used Truth Lesson 8 Annotation 1 and following annotations.)

18. When you give to another or do something for him, why should you trust divine law for recompense rather than demand compensation from him?

When we give to another we should trust divine law for our recompense because God is the source of every man's supply (recompense), while other individuals are channels and must not be thought of as the source of our supply.

Divine law is the action of universal principles established by Creative Mind, Spirit, for the government of creation as a whole. This law is unchangeable. "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38). This law is dependable, it is accurate. It never fails. The channels through which it will work are not and need not be specified by man. We do not need to be worried or concerned about the channels through which our good will come. Let God choose the channels. If we work with the law it works for us. It brings to us the good that is warranted. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

When God Almighty, Spirit, "involved" His life, substance, and intelligence, as spiritual man, He opened the way for the evolution of all the elements contained in the entire God-nature.

In humankind, involution is God breathing His nature, as it were, into action as man. Evolution is man breathing out, or giving back to God, as it were, what was entrusted or involved in him as an inheritance to be used for the benefit of all creation.

Thus, when one gives to another or does something for that one, his recompense lies in what he received (involution) or "breathes in" from the one Creative Mind. What he has expressed of good to another is part of his "breathing out," or the spiritual evolution that takes place in him to sustain life and the continual flow of abundance in his own experience.

Divine action is universal in its scope. If, by our limiting thoughts, words, or acts, we attempt to deal with divine law in terms of personality only, by expecting recompense from the one to whom we have given in service or goods, we place an obstacle in the way of the free-flow of the divine law of supply in our own life. Our business is concerned with the action of fundamental principles, not merely with persons. Our recompense or supply must come through the correct application of those principles. We must allow them to take the right course unhampered.

We make no bargains with persons; we make only the covenant of love and service. We recognize and trust Spirit, the governing power of the universe, to bring our own to us.

19. How would you build a consciousness of prosperity?

One builds a consciousness of prosperity in the same orderly manner in which anything is built, starting with an idea as the foundation. First, there must be a desire to build such a consciousness. There must be recognition of God as the one source of supply, and the individual's right, as son and heir of God, to that supply. Starting with this premise, the individual then turns his consciousness (mind and heart) Godward in prayer in order to lay hold of the idea of abundance that will act as his pattern or "blue-print" for building a prosperity consciousness. Through meditation upon the idea of supply, one learns what he needs to deny from consciousness, and what he needs to affirm. Then he contemplates the idea, and allows it to work in his imagination to form a mental image or picture. When he enters into that deeper phase of prayer which we term the Silence he has opened his consciousness so that the "letter" may be filled with the "spirit (that) giveth life" (II Cor. 3:6).

Charles Fillmore covers the process that goes on in the mind of man in the following words:

"It is well said that the mind is the crucible in which the ideal is transmuted into the real. This process of transformation is the spiritual chemistry we must learn before we are ready to work intelligently in the great laboratory of the Father's substance. There is no lack of material there to form what we will and we can draw upon it as a resource according to our purpose. Wealth of consciousness will express itself in wealth of manifestation" (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 56).

When man realizes that all things are of and from God, and that man is a steward of them, he is no longer selfish and grasping. He learns the truth of the Biblical statement "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof" (Psalms 24:1, A.V.).

Man has an innate desire to know God as the source of his good. On coins of the United States of America this basic prosperity law is stamped: "In God we trust." Consciously or unconsciously man is seeking to build or establish this truth in his mind and heart. So, strictly speaking, what we term the building of a "prosperity consciousness" in spiritual study is not merely a mental acceptance of our right to manifest good. It is the consciousness of God as the source of all that man and the rest of creation need in order to fulfill each individual purpose of existence. In The Story of Unity, page 118, this is stated very simply in this way: "The Fillmores ... thought that if they could maintain themselves in a prosperity consciousness, an awareness of God as the source of their supply, prosperity could not fail to be theirs" (The Household of Faith 118).