How Serving God Corrects America's Political Course
As above, so below. As in your mind, so in the world you see. In what way do you, as a servant of God, bring an oppressive earth life back to heaven?
"The public’s real anxiety is about values, not economics: the gnawing sense that Americans have become debt-addicted and self-indulgent; the sense that government undermines individual responsibility; the observation that people who work hard get shafted while people who play influence games get the gravy. Obama will have to propose policies that re-establish the link between effort and reward." -New York Times Columnist David Brooks writing about the failure of President Obama's liberalism and the American electorate's resounding vote for a change of course.
"Re-establish the link between effort and reward." What does Jesus teach about effort and reward? Let's look at his parable of the three servants, as presented in Matthew 25:14-29 of the "New Living Translation" of the Bible:
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."
Quiz time!. This teaching of Jesus is all about President Obama's ideal of redistribution of wealth, taking from those who have earned it and giving to those who have not earned it ... true or false? Listen inside.
You already know the answer on a worldly level, but the parable also has broader meaning. Remember, as above, so below. If there is a teaching in this parable related to success on earth, there is also a teaching related to success experiencing heaven.
The deeper meaning is that our life on earth is as if we are servants of heaven. We each find ourselves with a certain degree of openness to heaven, a particular "amount," so to speak, of the heavenly power of love and joy which is available to use as far as we can see. As we extend this heavenly love and joy, our giving is like making an investment and earning interest ... earning even more love and joy, earning even more of the experience of heaven.
The more we give of what we've been given, the more we are given to give, so to speak.
Jesus Christ's revelation for the 21st century, A Course In Miracles, says it this way:
Nothing you give is lost to you or anyone, but cherished and preserved for you in Heaven, where all the treasures given to God's Son are kept for him, and offered anyone who but holds out his hand in willingness they be received. Nor is the treasure LESS as it is given out. Each gift received but ADDS to the supply. For God IS fair. (ACIM Text Chap.25).
What then is the goal of a servant of God? What is the final outcome of the servant's endeavor? What is the final experience on earth which merges into the ultimate experience of heaven?
Freedom.
The Holy Spirit is the home of minds that seek for freedom. In Him they find what they have sought. The body’s purpose now is unambiguous. And it becomes perfect in the ability to serve an undivided goal. In conflict-free and unequivocal response to mind with but the thought of freedom as its goal, the body serves, and serves its purpose well. Without the power to enslave, it is a worthy servant of the freedom which the mind within the Holy Spirit seeks. (ACIM Workbook Lesson 199)
Each month our Holy Spirit gives a message of prophetic revelation which helps individuals open spiritually and understand Jesus' teaching.
If you would like to receive an email each month containing a link to the latest message from our Holy Spirit, please email us with "ADD" in the subject line: holyinstant@aol.com
"...nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)
Click below for more information on A Course in Miracles Light Sessions:
Holy Instant Christian Fellowship in Salt Lake City
