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.

That is spiritual power. That is intentional living. That is growth promoting and creating hopeful feeling that you are really living this mortal life, not being dragged through it.

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 building of a modern civilisation. 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.

True service, when performed, eventuates in spiritual growth. The addition of service motives, true service motives, to the existing profit motive, is a great 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, inferior performance 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, and in fact it is the beginning of what can turn into full fledged trespass on another's free will.

True 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 feed your soul, 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 (a wonderful side effect of soul growth). 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!

There is much power in fellowship

In the busyness of everyday living we tend to become somewhat lost or disconnected from Spirit. Your fellowship is a tool for rallying each ones personal faith, and becoming strengthened for the week ahead. Your willingness to share experience always helps somebody. To be open and honest about life's realities aids those who hear you, and helps us all to feel a part of the Kingdom.

You each have gifts that tend to the wellness of the whole. Perhaps one of you is a good listener and shows compassion, and yet does not enable one to be weak, but become strengthened and inspired to carry on. Perhaps one of you may be quite skilled in the sharing of wise counsel and is able to impart wisdom to aid in life circumstances. There are those of you who have a heightened sense of justice and can bring about group solution in a non-biased manner. There are those of you who emanate a peace and calm that is contagious to those around you. In this peaceful example you help others to find their own Spirit within.

There are those of you who are wonderful organizers and instigators of new projects. You help to bring high ideals to a human useable level. There are those of you with the gift of speech and often do well as a group spokesman. There are those of you who are deep thinkers and always have a wonderful perspective to share, that guides towards logic and practicality, straying away from mysticism and perhaps self-deceit or denial.

When you add up these gifts there is definitely a great deal of power and influence that can be found in a group. There is so much good that can come from just one group. You are each strengthened by one another and your dedication to gathering regularly confirms your faith and strengthens your collective foundation.

You heal one another.
You inspire one another.
You minister to each other with Spirit guidance.

That is spiritual power. That is intentional living. That is growth promoting and creating hopeful feeling that you are really living this mortal life, instead of being dragged through it.

The group is your tool

We all have a great deal to gain from one another. Those that have not known a loving parent may perhaps meet such a role model here in the group. Where one has not been a parent, there is experience to be gained from those in the group. Where there is lack there is fulfillment here. One who has not known a true friend will most likely find one here. One that does not know how to be a true friend will most likely find a wonderful example of one here.

Many have not experienced a typical childhood and have a great many issues to be healed. Through your willingness to share, heal and be healed, there will be fulfillment and satisfaction; there will be experience to be gained from one another; there will be tools to be shared in experiencing everyday life. There is such power in fellowship. There is such feelings of confidence being part of a family unit.

Where one may be imbalanced in spiritual thinking, there is balance to be gained from the group.
Where there is low self-esteem, there is acceptance and love to be found within the group.
Where there is pain, there is consolation.
Where there is depression, there is light.
Where there is doubt, there is faith, all within your group.

You sleep when you are tired. You eat when you are hungry. You communicate with your brethren when you feel empty. There is powerful wisdom to be gained in your unity. It is most likely that through fellowship your gifts will be fostered to use in everyday living.