What is Give and Take Action and how does it relate to existence?

Question

Sun Myung Moon · Accepted Answer

Understanding the fundamental law of interaction is critical to grasping the nature of God, the purpose of creation, and our own existence. This principle governs every relationship and provides the engine for life and development, offering profound insight into the mechanics of creation and existence itself. The Biblical Foundation of Relationship The Bible profoundly establishes that relationship is central to existence, unequivocally declaring that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). This divine nature inherently implies a dynamic of interaction even within the Godhead, as seen in the communal statement, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). God's very first blessing to His creation underscored this relational imperative: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (Genesis 1:28). This command necessitates interaction and relationship for multiplication and dominion to be achieved. Jesus further distilled all commandments into loving God and loving one's neighbor, stating, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). This emphasizes both vertical (God-human) and horizontal (human-human) relationships as foundational responsibilities. The Apostle Paul describes the church as a body with many members, beautifully demonstrating this interdependence: "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:16). This vivid imagery captures the essence of reciprocal relationship and mutual contribution. While the Bible commands love and showcases its effects, it often presents these dynamics without explicitly detailing the universal mechanics behind how this love and relationship precisely cause existence, development, and multiplication on a fundamental cosmic level. Divine Principle's Clarification of Give and Take Action The Divine Principle clarifies this profound biblical concept by introducing the universal law of Give and Take Action. To exist, develop, or multiply, every entity—from elementary particles to human beings—must possess both an internal character (internal character) and an external form (external form). These dual characteristics engage in a harmonious internal give and take, forming the basic unit. Subsequently, this unit, as a subject partner, engages in give and take action with an object partner. This dynamic interaction generates all the forces necessary for existence, development, and procreation. God Himself, as the First Cause, possesses original internal character and original essential external form. He is the ultimate Subject Partner who, in His overflowing love, seeks object partners who resemble Him to experience joy. God created all things with dual characteristics, manifesting His own nature. For example, in humans, the mind is the internal character and the body is the external form. In plants, a "plant mind" directs organic functions. Even energy has internal characteristics of purpose and design, which precede the formation of matter. This universal principle ensures that everything comes into existence through a reciprocal relationship of dual characteristics, like plus and minus. The Principle further clarifies that successful give and take action requires three elements: a common base (shared purpose or values), give and take (reciprocal exchange), and a center (God or a higher purpose directing the relationship). When these elements align, the result is harmony, multiplication, and joy. God's joy comes from object partners who look, act, and think like Him, returning beauty to His love. When they are misaligned—centered on self rather than God—the result is conflict and destruction. This explains why the fall of humankind resulted in broken relationships, as humanity shifted its center from God to self, leading to illicit relationships and making Satan the center. The Deeper Meaning of Existence and Love When these perspectives are united, a comprehensive understanding emerges: the biblical concept of active, self-giving love is the spiritual and ultimate manifestation of the universal law of give and take action. The Divine Principle provides the missing cosmological framework, demonstrating that God's command to love is not an arbitrary rule but an invitation to align with the very energy that creates, sustains, and propels the universe toward its intended purpose. God desires to experience joy and love through His substantial object partners. Thus, when we practice active love—loving God (vertical give and take) and loving our neighbors (horizontal give and take) as

What is Give and Take Action and how does it relate to existence?

The Biblical Foundation of Relationship

Divine Principle's Clarification of Give and Take Action

The Deeper Meaning of Existence and Love

Living the Principle

Sources and further reading