.
.
.
We
must know that wealth in itself is not a virtue. It can become a dangerous
thing . Baha'u'llah
says that God tests men with gold, just as
gold is tested by fire. He also says:
.
"
Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier
between the seeker and his desire.
the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in
no wise attain the court
of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well
is it then with
him, who , being rich, is not hindered by his riches
from the eternal kingdom, nor
deprived by them of imperishable dominion
. By the Most Great Name! The
splendor of such a wealthy man shall illumine the dwellers of heaven
, even as the
sun
enlightens the people of the earth. "
.
Our
object in life , therefore , should not be gathering wealth so as to enjoy
a short life of
comfort
in this world. Material riches can profit us only after we have acquired
spiritual
wealth
and come to know ourselves and the purpose of our lives in this world.
.
Baha'u'llah
has written:
.
"
Man should know his own
self , and know those things which lead to loftiness
or to
baseness, to shame or to honour , to affluence or to
poverty. After man has realized
his own being and become mature , then for
him wealth is needed . If this wealth is
acquired through a craft and profession, it is approvable and worthy of
praise to men of
wisdom, especially to those servants who arise to train the world and beautify
the souls
of
nations..."
.
Whether
we possess the riches of this world or not , let us remember that we can
all be spiritually rich if we let the love
of God enter into our hearts. This is
what God tells everyone of us through Baha'u'llah:
.
"
I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself
down to poverty? Noble I made thee,
wherewith dost thou a base thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge
I gave thee
being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside
Me? Out of the clay
of love I moulded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy
sight unto
thyself , that thou mayest find Me
standing within thee , mighty , powerful and
self
subsisting. "
.
.
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