In the Light of Truth
Grail Message by Abdrushin
1.BOOK ◄ ► 2.BOOK
39. Earthly possessions
When a man is striving to lay up for himself treasures in heaven, the question will often arise: is it necessary for him to part with his earthly wealth and to disregard all worldly possession?
It would be folly indeed to teach such renunciation and recommend it as a principle.
When man is warned not to set his heart on worldly possessions, it does not mean he should give away or throw away his wealth and live in poverty. Man should joyfully accept and enjoy what God's Creation offers him.
The admonition says: he is not to cling to his possessions to make their accumulation the aim of his life on earth. He is not to let that thought master him, for that would naturally turn him aside from pursuing higher aims. He would not find time for the latter. All his interests would be set on acquiring wealth, whether for its own sake or for the pleasure that it enables him to enjoy, or for whatever other reason, the result would be the same. He would bind himself to what is purely material and this would obstruct his spiritual vision and prevent his ascent.
The erroneous idea that worldly possessions are incompatible with spiritual advance, is responsible for the absurd view that spiritual advance, if serious, can never have anything in common with mundane possessions. Men are not aware of the disservice they do themselves, by giving away their wealth, for they disqualify and cripple the spiritual gifts that might fall to their share. Owing to this absurd view all spiritual work must depend for support on public charity, and gradually such work comes to look like beggary depending on almsgiving. Thus the spiritual worker or aspirant cannot command the respect that is unquestionably his right and his due. The work itself is doomed to be fruitless from the very beginning, because it would not stand on its own feet but always be dependent on the good-will of men.
He who is struggling heavenwards needs wealth more than any other, to protect and shield his spiritual treasure. Being a material weapon, he needs it to parry the attacks of the enemy. It would be indeed senseless to despise their most efficient weapon at a time when materialists are at the summit of their power. The results of such irresponsible negligence might well be disastrous. Therefore, all you who are true believers do not despise riches that could not have been acquired without the assent of the Will of God, the God you are seeking to honour. But make good use of them, do not let yourselves be lulled to sleep by them as riches are inclined to do.
A like standpoint is taken towards those who are blessed with special gifts enabling them to benefit mankind in different ways, such as the gift of healing the sick. In the most unabashed way, men consider that such gifts, having been accorded to man from heaven, as a particular blessing, should be placed at their free disposal. They even go so far as to expect that, when in their dire distress they have applied for such help, their condescension in so doing should be acknowledged with the expression of particular gratification. All help to such applicants, even if it be the only means to save them, should be unconditionally refused. Men blessed with such gifts should set a greater value on them, and not cast their pearls before swine.
To afford serious help they must expend far greater physical and psychic energy, as well as more time on their treatment, than a barrister needs to plead in defence of the accused or a doctor, to go on his round of visits to patients, or an artist to paint his picture. It would never occur to any one to expect the barrister or the doctor, or the artist to do their work for nothing, although the ability they have to do their work at all, is also a heavenly gift.
Cast aside these beggar's rags and don the garment that it is your good right to wear.
