LESSON 7: The Brotherhood of All Mankind
Prime Directive #4: The loving service of men
What does it mean to serve, especially in the divine sense? And who is serving who? The economy of the universe is based on the currency of this thing called service. But what is it? It is the simultaneous giving and receiving of and for the self with another — that is transacting with another in a mutually beneficial way!
Many make the mistake in believing that it (the receipt of benefit from service) is a one-way transaction. Yet many understand that it is not. You have heard “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. This is another way of saying that the giver receives more than the recipient in the giving. But did you know that to receive is also to minister to the giver?
- Worship must alternate with service (work).
- Work should alternate with play.
- Religion should be balanced by humor.
The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.
Much confusion regarding service has been introduced by those who are strongly motivated by the desire to gain profit. The profit motive has been instrumental in the civilizing of man. It has served a much useful purpose. However, service and profit are not the same. When profiteers present the notions of service to those whom they would enslave, the concept is transformed to become one of servitude rather than service, with the main idea being that so-called service consists in relinquishing one's material goods and efforts in order to improve one's self spiritually, and of course, the material goods and efforts received go on to improve the profits of the presenter. The most compelling use of this logic has been put forth by certain persons in organized religions, and they are most plentiful. Motive is extremely important in understanding the true nature of service.
Service, when performed, eventuates in spiritual growth. The addition of service motives, true service motives, to the existing profit motive, is a great forward step forward.
Many of the proverbs of Jesus are guidelines for you if you wish to be more service oriented and service actuated. For example, “it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.” What good, truly, for a man to pursue profit throughout his life - disdaining Truth Beauty and Goodness, and Love - just to amass a great fortune in material goods, and then make large charitable contributions shortly before his death in the name of service?
Each of you, each individual, is unique and different, a created personality with a specific mission in the universe. The ultimate in service is to develop your skills and perform them to the best of your ability with each day that you live, whatever your skills may be, to be honest, to be kind.
Would you deprive others of the adversity that they require for their own experiential growth? If not, then why would you give a man goods he has not earned? Jobs he does not deserve? Honors he does not merit? The rewarding of inferior performance, even though it may be well motivated, is not correct. It leads to mediocrity, and holds everyone back rather than advancing. Inferior performance, if left alone unrewarded, will either improve or will extinguish itself, because it will not succeed. If rewarded it will persist and detract from the superior performance of others, others who are rightfully motivated and service oriented. Pity is not the same as compassion.
Service has nothing to do with the gratification of the ego, which is another area of confusion, and incorrect motivation. Doing good is not the same as making another person feel good. How could you possibly know what really makes them feel good. To do such a thing is to attempt to enter into ego-seeking of the other. It is not service.
However, service is not the pursuit of one's own selfish goals, either. If anything, service takes you outside of yourself. It has been said that it is most important while living this mortal life to be in the world yet not of it. That is part of service.
To grow spiritually is becoming more and more service oriented in your actions, and that will lead you to experience a greater measure of energies and a lesser concern with material needs. And, interestingly, you will find that your material life will become easier, with far less conflict. That is not to say you will not continue to experience adversity, with battles. But you will find it less onerous.
Do not be fearful, but have joy and good cheer for you have some wonderful experiences awaiting.
