Who is a failure in the correct sense of the term?

Why do so many men fail?

Failure implies that a man has not fulfilled his full duty either as it concerns himself or others; that he has failed in some manner to meet the conditions necessary for success. In other words, it indicates that in his own case he has not paid the price demanded for success; has not complied with the terms of the Law of Compensation.

Man was created in the image of his Creator. He is potentially endowed with all of the attributes, possibilities and creative capacities that his Creator possesses, though of course in lesser degree. This being admitted. it is certain that in the case of failure it is due either to ignorance regarding the things he seeks to accomplish or achieve, or the incorrect use of his forces, power, abilities or knowledge.

The Nazarene gave us what is perhaps the simplest, yet most difficult, of all Laws for success: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you." By no means should we construe this in a purely religious sense. It is sound business sense. It commands no more, no less, than: "Do all things right - correctly," then all things may be yours. To accept this command, to comply with it, is the assurance of success.

This statement means exactly what it says. It is a fair, just, righteous command. First be certain that you (a) KNOW what you want to do, (b) learn how to do it, (c) proceed to do it the way it should be done; and, more important still, (d) DO IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE DONE AND (e) IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE DONE; WORKING PATIENTLY AND PERSISTENTLY until the task is accomplished.

This command or Law is not an arbitrary, unfair, dictatorial decree by an unfeeling judge who is out of sympathy with those of lesser rank than himself. It is not restricted in any sense to the domain of man's religious, devotional, spiritual nature, though all too frequently so considered.

It is not to be regarded as an ethical standard concerned solely with man's relation to man - although it pointedly applies to dealings with his fellow man - because that is strictly concerned with natural, spiritual and moral law. The principle underlying the command is in reality the LAW OF THE UNIVERSE. It is based on RIGHT; it is likewise based on CORRECTNESS, and lastly, on EXCHANGE.

What, under present consideration, does the "Kingdom of Heaven" imply? Simply stated, both in a meterial and spiritual sense (these cannot be separated), the "Kingdom of Heaven" is the domain of man's, EVERY man's, interior resources; his inherent forces, capacities and capabilities. It is the "kingdom" or domain of Divine possibilities with which he is endowed and limited only by HIMSELF - by his inertia, his ignorance or his unwillingness to fulfill the obligations of the Law.

This domain includes the instincts of self-preservation, the creative forces, together with the latent or undeveloped ability to direct these forces into the right channels for the accomplishment of the purpose in mind.

What is it to "seek the Kingdom of Heaven," as applied to every individual? It is to learn how to unfold, cultivate and develop the powers, capacities and capabilities of man's interior kingdom and so be able to make the most of exterior opportunities. It is to explore his own fathomless realm of possibilities; to investigate the provinces of his own inner resources and bring all of these latencies to a state of dynamic efficiency and constructiveness. If man is actually willing to do this and proceeds to do so, he will soon realize that all things are within the individual, ready to be made available and productive.

To become capable of applying these talents and potentialities, man must search his own WITHIN. This is implied most positively in the command "Seek you FIRST the kingdom of Heaven." He must learn how to explore this inner kingdom, a world or universe in itself, and there discover the means of attainment and accomplishment. He must seek for and proceed to attain self-mastery, making himself proficient and efficient in the application of his creative power of thought, desire (love for the thing he seeks to achieve and accomplish), and the Will to stick to it until the accomplishment has been achieved.

In the meantime he dare not neglect the opportunities offered him in the material world of sense, but must thoroughly prepare himself in the fundamentals and basic principles of the work which he seeks to accomplish. Preperation and uninterupted effort are the fundamentals of success. Some there are who, because of their knowledge and ability to succeed; others must learn from the beginning and develop the ability.

The inner realm of untold possibilities is indeed the "Kingdom of Heaven" or of "all good and righteous things," and elsewhere termed "the Kingdom of God and His rightousness." It is well named, for it is the domain where reside, to be drawn upon, all the Divine powers and resources with which the Creator endowed his creature.

However, this thought must be emphasized: Even thought all that is to be found in this inner self may have been developed and brought to a state of activity, it cannot correctly be called "the Kingdom of God and its righteousness" unless man's desires are free from gross self-interest and baseness and unless his achievement has been brought about in obedience to the purpose and Will of the Divine Law.

"Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven" is necessarily a twofold effort and process: (a) it includes the development of the faculties and possibilities latent within man's being (b) it embraces the purification of man's desires and motives to assure the use of these powers only for purposes in harmony with the Divine Will and Law.

"Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven" becomes the secret of success in life because the development of man's innate nature and resources, when actuated by unselfish motives, puts him in tune with the constructive forces of the Universe and he is carried along with and sustained by them.

The primary object of the command - Seek ye first (begin by) the "kingdom of Heaven" - was, and is that man should learn to know and then make use of all his natural powers, forces and faculties in all the affairs of life. This one purpose should be the activating motive for cultivating these powers.

Such an endeavor and the resulting development should enable him to achieve success in his chosen field, making him proficient in his undertakings and efficient in his service; consequently helping him to triumph in the department of life wherein lies his greatest interest.

In this sense, the Divine decree - "Seek ye first the Kingdom Of Heaven" virtually commands: "Develop the powers and forces of your own kingdom, both within and without, and success, BOTH MATERIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, will be yours." Such is the Law.

It is the plan of the Divine Law that man should succeed in the realm of his choice, but the Divine inculcation - " Seek ye first" - commands that man must start with righteousness, i.e., begin RIGHTLY.

The responsibility of accomplishment rests entirely with the individual himself and the method he pursues. He must be willing to "pay the price," because another Law is: "Only the laborer (AFTER he has labored) is worthy of his hire," hence success that is real and lasting follows only after man has obeyed all the parts of the Law. The greater the purpose and the higher the plane he seeks to achieve, the heavier will be the price he must pay. This includes self-preparation and effort.

These two are ever and forever the handmaidens of success. Excuses for lack of preparation and inertia (laziness) are not acceptable in the realm of success. Effort continued and sustained - labor - alone is the exchange to be made. That which is obtained or gained except by fair exchange is robbery and will be recalled at a moment least expected.

He who demands, or accepts, that which he has not earned beggars himself. He is thereby "beholden" to the giver; he is "subsidized" and to that degree in bondage, hence a slave. He has not complied with the Law of seeking first the "Kingdom," i.e., depending upon himself and his God-given abilities and capabilities.

The just, those who acknowledge the Law, investing effort, time, material substance and making the necessary sacrifices in achieving or gaining possessions, experience great joy and pleasure in possession. Theirs is a righteous feeling for honestly having obtained that which they have. The more liberally we are willing to pay, whether this be in time, effort or other exchange, the greater to us is the intrinsic value which we receive in return.

Superior quality is generally, almost universally, associated with greater expenditure of one thing or another. This is because we have an unconscious sense or feeling of the Law of Compensation and that fair exchange is a Law to be respected in every phase and station of life if we are to be free men.

Lack of knowledge, or refusal, due to inborn dishonesty, to comply with the Law of Compensation, usually account for all defeat and failure.

Everyone of us is placed in the position or condition which we occupy because, for the time being, WE BELONG THERE. A lesson is to be learned or a debt to be paid. Complaint and inertia will not help or lift us out of our present condition until we have learned our lesson.

The natural longing for something better, higher, more advanced, or for greater possessions, is a certain indication that man has the capability within himself to work out of his immediate environment into something better; to free himself from the present undesirable condition and attain to that which is nobler and gives him greater freedom.

The question is whether or not man is willing to make the necessary effort and the required sacrifices to free himself of the things that bind him, so that he can progress and proceed in the fulfillment of his desires.

Here is where the vast multitude makes the greatest mistake. They erroneously believe that conditions, circumstances and others like themselves are interfering and retarding their advancement, thwarting their efforts. This may be true, possibly is, but if so then it is the incontestable proof that they are slaves and in bondage to conditions or persons that stand between themselves and the fulfillment of their desires.

It is a certainty that until they arouse themselves and rise above such bondage and obtain their freedom, they are unworthy of freedom and success, irrespective of who or what happens to be their stumbling block. The price of liberty (freedom) is eternal vigilance.

It is equally true that the price to be paid to rise above circumstances, conditions and environment is constant effort, the never-give-up spirit, the I-Will-Win determination uninterruptedly adhered to.

Countless others believe foolishly that the secret of success, or getting into more desirable circumstances, rest with someone else; that some outside power or influence is capable of lifting them out of themselves. This may be true in many instances, but it is an artificial success and is only temporary. Those who believe this, and they are legion, continually seek for something outside of themselves as a means of advancement. They seek to be subsidized, unaware that this is nothing less than selling themselves into bondage and far less desirable than ordinary failure.

To many depend upon influential friends, relatives or a "pull" with political factions. When these fail, they are in despair and, lacking the manhood and incentive to depend upon themselves and their own abilities, they forfeit what might be turned into success and therefore fail, condemning and damning everyone but the right one, themselves.

Admittedly, no man is sufficient unto himself, nor able to live unto himself. It is equally a truism that in modern civilization we are virtually dependent on one another, but this dependence should be through the medium of exchange.

When the development of interior resources and innate possibilities are concerned the real man must depend upon his own efforts. No one, whoever he may be or whatever his station in life, can permanently hold in check the individual who is determined to develop his potentialities and to achieve success. If this were not true, then it would be equally a fact that we are all the slaves of others.

Once man actually realizes that he is possessed of powers, forces and faculties endowed by the Creator and is capable and privileged to develop and use these inheritances in any channel he chooses, aye, more, that he is commanded by creative Law to do so, irrespective of the opinions and restrictions of friends or foes - he will, if a man, in the true sense of the term, make every effort to master the laws which govern this inner development and then proceed to so live and so strive as to bring all his forces into activity.

In doing this, he will come into the "Kingdom of Heaven" and all the statement implies. He will then be the master of his own interior creative agencies, directing and using them for the benefit of himself and, indirectly, for others.

Anyone desiring to free himself from objectionable conditions or environment and to reverse his position must first of all determine whether he is actually qualified for the position or place in life to which he aspires. If he finds himself lacking, and if he is at all wise, he will at once proceed to take the necessary steps to prepare himself, being assured that there is a place and position for every capable man. In this effort others may be of great service in guiding and preparing him, just as he later may render like service to others.

However, he must not get the idea that others can do this work of preparation for him or even make it easier for him, because the effort necessary will give him the strength to carry through to success after he has prepared himself.

"Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven" signifies that it is incumbent upon man to first labor for the attainment of oneness and harmony (a state of peace) within the self and not be torn constantly by conflicting desires and uncertainties.

Such conflicting desires and uncertainties are always certain to bring about failure and defeat in whatever the undertaking may be. "Be sure (certain) you are right, then go ahead," unfalteringly and unhesitatingly. The individual must establish peace (certainty and assurance) in his own household: his thoughts, desires, purpose and motives.

Nothing is certain so long as the carnal desires are toward one thing, the mind toward another, and the spiritual self toward still another, and, possibly, in addition to all this inner conflict and turmoil, family and friends in still another direction. A man in such a position is like an aviator who finds favorable indications in one direction, but flies in a directly opposite and dangerous one.

All too many, perhaps ninety-nine out of every hundred, fancy they want certain things above all others. When the desire is subjected to reason and analysis they find themselves wholly uncertain, their convictions at cross purposes and without a real urge to proceed in the indicated direction for success.

Unification of ideas and desires is essential to success. There must be one central desire and then all minor ones condensed or transmuted into that desire; the entire nature brought to one fixed purpose. This is Concentration and Centralization; a Unification of purpose; the key to every success.

This process of unification and harmonizing the various desires of our divergent nature may, and most frequently does, require time and effort. Even after this is finally accomplished we should not foolishly expect to at once step out of the old condition and into the new one. Man must become gradually conditioned to the new environment.

Nature says that all birth is in travail. If he is a real man, then without grumbling, bitterness or self-pity he will continue with his old duties until he slides, as it were, into the new condition; prepared to render even more perfect and faithful services in his new position or environment than he did in the former.

Freedom from the old and the benefits of the new are gained slowly, patiently, step by step with patience, cheerfulness and above all perfect willingness to comply with all necessary efforts and denials involved.

The desire for a more advanced position in life is natural, a God-given urge and, in true manhood, is accompanied by an incentive to willingly devote whatever time and effort is necessary to attain his objective. All energies, thoughts, desires and interests should be steadily, faithfully, patiently bent toward the end to be achieved. The mental pictures, imaginings and far visions must be occupied with the purpose to be attained, and become part and parcel of the mental fabric, and woven into the very fiber of one's being.

Even casual, listless, dreamy, fanciful visions of him-self in the desired position, IF THESE ARE INCENTIVES TO ACTION, will be of some slight avail. Man must fully comprehend that his thought kingdom, must be changed into "the Kingdom of Heaven" within his own being and through his own resources and manifold powers.

This is in truth and fact the Center of Causation, the Crucible of Power. We should learn to understand the psychological principles and Divine Laws underlying and controlling the activities of both thought force and Will power - while also cultivating the ability to recognize and the Will power to do our God-given duty - whatever it may be. An understanding of these principles and Laws will enable man to consciously direct all the energies and faculties of his being into channels for the attainment or accomplishment of his desires.

At this point of the progress of the individual he is dependent upon and requires the help of instruction and direction of one who fully understands the laws and principles of constructive thinking, wise direction and the efforts necessary to attain success. No one but himself can make the effort and do the work, but others can teach and guide him in the principles of self-mastery - the first step toward mastery of conditions and circumstances - encourage and guard him until such time as he is capable of charting his own path.

It is at this point that man most frequently meets with failure. Due to erroneous concepts and a disregard for the Law of Compensation, he is all too often unwilling to pay the price of attainment; to comply with the requirements of the Law of Compensation and fair exchange.

Once he understands the underlying principles and the absolute certainty that there is no possibility of obtaining and retaining "something for nothing" - as he realizes that man must pay for, make an exchange for, everything accepted, he will proceed with his daily tasks in an entirely different attitude; in an orderly manner and cheerful spirit. He will also know that, having the proper conception, nothing can be taken from him without his receiving a return. All his thoughts, his actions, his efforts will be in agreement with the law of equal exchange. He will establish in his nature scrupulous regard in respect to the sin of omission, both as it concerns himself and others; the Law of Compensation teaching that sins of omission are as grievous and causative of failure as are those of commission, and both are to guarded against at all times and under all conditions.

An understanding of the Law of Compensation, or full equal exchange, is like a new birth. It is a mental awakening to a new truth. Transition from one state of being (existence) to another is attended by pain. This is true irrespective of the nature of the birth; whether it be mental awakening to the formerly unknown which demands discarding the old, leading into a new plane or state of experience, or into spiritual unfoldment.

In the experience of the individual who is just coming into an understanding of the Law of Compensation and is truly endeavoring to fit himself for a better position and more desirable services, there is the certainty of pain, because of anxiety and mistrust of the workability of the Law insofar as the individual is concerned.

This is understandable. Man often fears that under new and heretofore unknown conditions his undertaking may prove to be unsuccessful; there are fears of family disapproval; of what others may say or think, and there is a nameless and indefinable dread in making the necessary change. We have this fear or dread even when moving from one house to another; one city to another.

Moreover, there is still another price to be paid for success or attainment. This involves pain of another type; the repeated struggles and battles with the lower nature clamoring for the ease and pleasure of a less strenuous life. It is not yet fully understood that when the challenges of the lower, lazy nature are met and overcome, the battles won, they give man in exchange a constantly increasing strength and ability to meet still greater difficulties and overcome them, which in turn offer still more strength.

The Law of Compensation concerns the individual; every individual, in its relation to fairness and justice. He who is helped by another, or accepts something from another, should willingly comply with the requirements of the Law of Exchange. The principle and honor embedded within should urge man to not only willingly obey the law, but be anxious to do so in order to remain free, whether or not the creditor is in need of repayment. The Law is not concerned with what others may need, but with the nature of our inner self.

As soon as a man becomes convinced of the absolute and unerring accuracy of the Law of Compensation in every department of life, he will at the same time realize that his own self-preservation, self-promotion and inner happiness (peace and contentment) are undeniably dependent upon his satishying the requirements of this law. The Law is self-operating; self-reacting. To possess true friends, one must feel real friendship and offer it to others.

The same law applies to affection, love, and all the other godly emotions. It is equally true with the feeling and display of the passions. To be affectionate, to love, is to have life enriched by the REactionary forces created by such feeling.

It is recognized that there is such a thing as ingratitude; all too much of it. If one is affectionate because there is affection in the heart and not with the thought of profit; if one loves because there is love in the heart; then this affection, this loving is self-satisfying.

If we are unselfish, the ingratitude of others has no effect upon us, even though it may seem that our love and affection are somewhat wasted. To be hurt by ingratitude is proof that the affection or love offered is of a selfish nature and it is the selfishness which caused the hurt.

Those who are selfish at heart are usually unwilling to recognize and accept the Law of Compensation. They still believe that something may be had without exchange. They will continue in this belief until by bitter experience they become conscious of the fact that they have been laboring under a delusion and that everything which they accepted without a return of equal value must now be repaid, even if they do not possess the wherewithal to pay.

On the contrary, those who are naturally honest will accept this Law because its expression is recognized as fair and just. These seek the best and will not be satisfied with less than the best, and if need be, will make whatever sacrifices are necessary to obtain or attain to, the best and highest.

Because of their recognition and compliance with the Law they will ultimately be successful, while the others will remain failures; the victims of both themselves and those who possess the shrewdness to use their weakness to their own benefits.

What is the reason for these diverse issues? What is the underlying principle involved? At first glance, and without full knowledge of the Law, this is not so readily understood, but a careful analysis furnishes the answer.

Those who seek the best, and find it, are willing to make an exchange of equal value, no matter what sacrifice is necessary. In doing this they raise themselves up; uplift themselves, thereby raising their vibrations, attracting to themselves the best there is for their welfare.

On the contrary, those who compromise with their higher nature, those who are "cheap" with themselves, and who, opportunity offering, will take advantage of others for their own benefit, thereby lower their inner nature and their vibrations to such an extent that they draw to themselves just what they deserve.

He who sincerely is seeking to attain the highest, whether it be material or spiritual, is not actuated by the thought or feeling; "I cannot afford it," but by the question: "Can I afford to do without it? When our ambition reaches the conviction that nothing but the best will do, then we willingly work to obtain the best.

This does not imply that in ordinary life, merely knowing what is best and wanting the best, will enable us to immediately step into the exact position desired. It is necessary to first fully prepare to fill such a position. In the meantime we should gladly accept any position, however menial, and in that lowly position GIVE OUR BEST; lifting ourselves, as a result, up to the spirit of the better position and find it ready when we are prepared for it.

In like manner, a man may be in need of a suit of clothing, but be without the means of buying the kind suitable; in which case he would choose the best possible and make an effort toward obtaining a better one. The effort would be toward betterment; toward constantly improving the self and the position; an elevation of the spirit and hence of the attracting vibratory forces.

Development or growth on all planes of existence, being, or activity, must always begin with effort; not by the intercession of any one else in our behalf. We must endeavor on our part to obtain or secure the things we consider essential to our welfare, or for the progress of those dependent upon us and for whom we are naturally, morally and spiritually responsible. Our own personal effort to obtain that which we desire requires that we arouse within ourselves the latent strength and capability as well as the dormant faculties inborn and awaiting the command to "come forth."

The Nazarene made practical application of the Law of Compensation or exchange when he expressly forbade the disciples to take money or extra clothing with them on their journey, clearly teaching them by example that the "laborer is worthy of his hire" in the field of teaching and healing as certainly as in the production of food or other necessary commodities.

The Divine Law cannot possibly be unfair or unjust in its commands and demands. Whoever upholds this Law in his relations with others is neither unfair, severe onr cruel. He is merely exacting from others an exchange based on justice, teaching them by example that they must live above the plane of parasites and spiritual beggary.

In our emphasis on the acceptance and fulfillment of the Law of Compensation we should not become guilty of withholding a neighborly spirit, nor refuse kindly help to the needy. We must indicate by our actions that to be worthy of the pleasures of human intercourse and good-fellowship we must not forget the necessity of living in the spirit of the Law.

To become a recipient of regard, we must in turn be a giver. To expect honest and just treatment in our business transactions, we must in turn render like service to others; remembering at all times that "to give is to receive," if not at once, then certainly "after many days and when most in need."

In accepting anything whatever, even as a gift, we are held strictly accountable to the Law. If we do not give freely in return, then at some time, somewhere, by some means, we will be deprived of an equal value as an exchange or repayment; hence it is better to remember the Law and consciously and willingly comply with the Law.

The operation of this Law is unerring, impersonal and accurate. We do pay for all we receive, whether we know it or not; either consciously and deliberately, or grudgingly and unwillingly. The losses, injuries and misfortunes, and even the rebuffs of daily life are all too often the demand of repayment by the Law, or because we fail to live in the spirit of it, even though we comply with it physically or materially.

How much happier and successful life would be if we would willing comply with the Law's principle of equality and equilibrium, instead of so frequently cheapening our character and spirit by the attitude of mind savoring of continuous "bargain-hunting," even in spiritual things.

The highest price paid when dealing with honest merchantmen - and we should not deal with others unless it be unavoidable - generally assures the best and most desirable quality and is, in the ultimate, the wisest economy.

Nothing is here indicated to lull our reason to sleep by a false sense of honesty and permit ourselves to be imposed upon. "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" can well be recognized as a part of the Divine Law.

Instead of always thinking of "buying" and "selling" it would be far more desirable if we held the thought of making wise investments and exchanges with the idea that all concerned in the transaction should benefit.

Success is only for those who recognize the governing Laws; who are perfectly willing to pay the price demanded; fulfill all that success demands, both as regards ourselves and others. The secret of good "luck" or "fortune" is in knowledge, honesty, self-reliance and self-mastery.

To seek and find the "Kingdom of Heaven," i.e., to wisely and constructively master and use the creative forces of a trained mind, an awakened consciousness and an ennobled heart, is in part a willingness to "pay the price" demanded by the Law, together with the wisdom and strength to refuse imposition.
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