Our Unlimited Wealthfulness

We sometimes refer to fiscal responsibility as a 'sacred duty,' and Butterworth translates this to mean we can use our spiritual energy to make ourselves economically whole, or as Butterworth puts it, "wealthful" (Spiritual Economics 6). Butterwroth alludes to Mt. 18:20 in describing wealthful energy--especially as regards the stock market: "Wherever two or three are gathered together in an interaction of minds, a very real energy force is projected into the world" (Ibid. 116). Butterworth uses a familiar biblical passage to remind us that our energy around economics changes our 'wealthfulness' -- and perhaps that of the world.

Butterworth also suggests that we spend (no pun intended) too much energy in worship of the 'all mighty dollar.' In the chapter, "If You Can Believe," he tells us to "Seek first his kingdom ... the first step should be not to treat for things but to get centered in the divine flow" (Ibid. 80). This is a recurrent theme in Butterworth that speaks to traditional and liberal (Unity) Christian theology: Jesus said, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need" (Mt. 6:33 -- New Living Translation 2007 -- very nice!) Seek an experience of God first, and all things will come to you. Without an experience of God, we have nothing; and with God, we have everything we need. That is my theology.

Clearly our perception of our wealth is tied to our perception of the world and our resulting experience of it. I recently commented to an investment broker that the stock market is improving, based on the increase in my pension fund. He responded, "Don't be too quick to say that, the market is down today." I thought, how could the broker say that when the value of stocks had risen over 10% in the last month? I silently affirmed the increase in the stock market once again. In Spiritual Economics Butterworth tells us, "The starting point in changing your life from financial reversals to an experience of abundance is the realization that you can change your life by altering your thoughts" ((Ibid. 118). What a bold statement! Certainly it is an affirmation of what Filllmore defines as "Spiritual Substance, the Fundamental Basis of the Universe" (Prosperity 9). Fillmore elaborates: "When the spiritual body is established in consciousness, its strength and power is transmitted to the visible body and to all the things that we touch in the world about us" (Ibid.)

In the chapter, "God Will Pay Your Debts," Fillmore tells us, "Debts exist in the mind, and in the mind is the proper place to begin liquidating them" (Prosperity 9). He reminds us to forgive the debts of others so we can be forgiven of our debts: the power of giving and receiving forgiveness. Have you tried this as an experiment? Forgive someone, and I guarantee that you will receive in some unexpected ways.

You know, I think Prosperity is my favorite Charles Fillmore book because it reminds me not only to forgive my debtors, but also that the universe always seeks equilibrium, and "there can be no such thing as lack of equilibrium in all the universe" (Ibid. 120). Therefore, where there is perceived illness, the body seeks to right itself in health; where there is perceived lack, the universe seeks to right itself in supply. We have all heard the expression, 'nature abhors a vacuum,' and this is correct both in the physical and in the metaphysical worlds. How many of us have sought a relationship and, shortly, one is placed before us. We may not take up the relationship that is placed before us; but I believe one is always offered up to us.

Fillmore tells us in the chapter, "The Law that Governs the Manifestation of Supply," that "in our human understanding we have divorced [the] imaging power of the mind from the executive power ... let us bring them together and unify them, for when imagination and will work together all things are possible to man" (Ibid. 77). In my own life, when I prayed for an ability to come here for a semester, all doors began to open for me: I used my powers of imagination and will to contact a few friends, and the next thing I knew, I had a beautiful house to live in free of charge, a car of my own, and, soon, a job. But the creative experience has been the most amazing part: I have so many ideas for talks, for papers, for prayer ... I am inspired by God's creative universe!

So you can change your life by altering your thoughts ... And Butterworth reminds us that if we fail, we are that much closer to success: "Failure is a vital part of achieving success" (Spiritual Economics 119). He suggests that it is life education rather than our schooling that prepares us for success. He says, "As you sit thinking, "'if I could only find a job,' some employer is at that very moment thinking, 'if only we could locate the right person for this opening!'" (Ibid. 122).

I am currently looking for work, and I will affirm right here and now that my unemployment is temporary and that the reality of the situation is that I will be working very soon. Perhaps I should enjoy the leisure of my unemployment, my ability to sit in the Student's Lounge and write this blog, and then mosey over to TPM to hold prayer vigil for an hour. Perhaps that is true abundance, right here, right now ...?

Butterworth gives us an affirmation that I plan to use, "I know that within me is an unborn possibility of limitless potentialities, and this is my opportunity to begin to give birth to new ideas, new strength, and new vision" (Ibid. 128).

When we acknowledge the world as one of unlimited supply, it is easier to accept wealth. Sometimes it seems counterintuitive to believe that when we accept our wealth, the world conspires to supply us with it, that God is all substance and supply and we receive it; but that is the fact.