Cumulative Goodness

TUES., MAR. 9, 1993, 6:04 AM
FARM, STUDY

Remember the Scriptural admonition “Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth… but… treasures in heaven”. One aspect of such treasures in heaven is what I’ll call this morning cumulative goodness. These are deeds, and even motivations, that are good, meaning, basically, unselfish and for the benefit of others.

Goodness is different from righteousness. This latter is bestowed, not earned. At least as I use righteousness it means being right with Me… accepting My gift and never rejecting it, even if all that you actually do is not good. They are related, in that when you are righteous you tend to do good, but not always. Yet righteousness pulls you back toward doing good… and here’s where the cumulative comes in. Goodness tends to be rewarding, immediately or in retrospect, so it’s like a positive addiction – you want that good feeling, so you tend to do good, for that sort of “reward.”

Because righteousness favors goodness it also warns against evil, “badness,” not goodness. It is not good that you are not writing the notes and letters that I continue to suggest. Therefore your righteousness… your relationship with Me… keeps these on your conscience and will push you to do them, overcoming the sloth that keeps your pen idle for this task. How good it will feel when you have written all, even some, of what you owe!

The situation with the student, Toni, yesterday, was an example of cumulative goodness. She came for help. You wanted to help, and you did, by talking with her for a time. Yet what she needed was somewhat beyond your capacities so you thought of several persons who might be helpful… and then assured her that you truly wanted to help. This last “gesture” was both a product of cumulative goodness and an addition to it. Even though you’re not comfortable in counseling circumstances you can anticipate good feelings, even from honest attempts to help.

The class here last evening is another kind of example. You have had previous classes here for this supper and evening, and so you are comfortable in doing this, even though the size of this group was bothersome. You know it will be quite a good experience, and thus it is, out of cumulative goodness and then accumulating even more. You must continue to remember that these classes here at the Farm are a definite facet of the goodness of your teaching. Long after many students have forgotten specific “things” you said about health they shall remember the healthy experiences of having classes here, ascribing goodness to you… and to Lenore.

It would be good if you were more neat, especially in your office and study. If you could maintain the neatness that you occasionally achieve this would then be cumulative, and it would be easier to continue. Now you tend to have cumulative disarray, which impedes your effectiveness as a professional. Yet it does not damage your relationship with Me… your righteousness.