We are to be charitable with our wealth.

 

253. We are to be charitable with our wealth: We are told in the Holy Bible that we are to be charitable with that which God has given us and be a friend and benefactor to the poor and needy; and, as a result, a bounty unto our own selves. This teaching is also reflected in the Bahá’í writings and many of the other religions of God and seems to be almost a standard for religion.  Christianity: 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” God loves those that give of their own free will. 1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 6:17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” 1 Timothy 6:18 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as a prince among goodly deeds….. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 71)

 JUDAISM: Psalms 22:9 “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” Proverbs 3:27 “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto The LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “We have ere this uttered these sublime words: Let them that bear allegiance to this Wronged One be even as a raining cloud in moments of charity and benevolence and as a blazing fire in restraining their base and appetitive natures.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 94)

 CHRISTIANITY: Matthew 5:42 “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Luke 3:11 “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” 1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Let us have love and more love, a love that melts all opposition, that sweeps away all barriers, that conquers all foes, a love that aboundeth in charity, large-heartedness, tolerance, and noble striving, a love that triumphs over all obstacle, a boundless, an irresistible, sweeping love! Ah me! Each one must be a sign of love, a center of love, a sun of love, a star of love, a palace of love, a mountain of love, a world of love, a universe of love! Hast thou love? Then thy power is irresistible. Hast thou sympathy? Then all the stars will sing thy praise.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 454)

 BABI RELIGION: “Broadly regarded, Bábísm may be defined as a creed of charity, and almost of common humanity. Brotherly love, kindness to children, courtesy combined with dignity, sociability, hospitality, freedom from bigotry, friendliness even to Christians, are included in its tenets.”

(Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions 1844-1944, p. 46)

 CHRISTIANITY: 1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”  Judaism: Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which The LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:” Deuteronomy 15:8 “But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.”  Christianity: James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Be ye trustworthy on earth, and withhold not from the poor the things given unto you by God through His grace.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 54)

 BABI RELIGION: “The life of the exiles (Babis) was a perpetual subject of edification. Scarcely were they installed than each of them took up all occupation — it is a principle of their faith that each man must work — and they appeared to live as the other Muslims, with this single difference that they never ceased to give an example of charity and gentleness.”

(Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions 1844-1944, p. 198)

 ISLAM: 43. “Be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: 83. “We took a Covenant from the children of Israel (to this effect): worship none but Allah (God); treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: “The rich are in fact the poor (little rewarded) on the Day of Resurrection except him whom Allah gives wealth which he gives (in charity) to his right, left, front and back, and does good deeds with it.”

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 36. “The Law of Mazda (God) will not deliver thee unto pain. Thou art entreated (for charity) by the whole of the living world, and she is ever standing at thy door in the person of thy brethren in the faith beggars are ever standing at the door of the stranger, amongst those who beg for bread.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

 Zoroastrianism: “Charity and stinginess cannot lead to the same consequence.  He does not prohibit the acquisition of wealth, but only wishes that charity should be the main object of the acquisition. Acquire money, save and increase it, but only for the purpose of giving it to deserving persons.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 456)

 Zoroastrianism: Denkard. Zoroaster, “The soul is for righteous principles, and wealth for helping the afflicted, and ingenuity for perseverance.”

 HINDUISM: 226. “Let him, without tiring, always offer sacrifices and perform works of charity with faith; for offerings and charitable works made with faith and with lawfully-earned money, procure endless rewards.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 4)

 Hinduism: 1. “There are three branches of the law. Sacrifice, study, and charity are the first.”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 1, Khandogya-Upanishad Part 1)

 BUDDHISM: 17. “Speak the truth, don’t get angry, and always give (in charity), even if only a little, when you are asked. By these three principles you can come into the company of the devas.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 17. “One should speak the truth. One should not give way to anger. If asked for little one should give. One may go, by these three means, to the presence of celestials.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “If persons should come to them and ask for something, they should as far as their means allow, supply it ungrudgingly and thus make them happy. If they see people threatened with danger, they should try every means for rescuing them and restore them to a feeling of safety.” (Buddha, Diamond Sutra)

“(Be giving), display kindness, show compassion.” Be giving of that which you have to those in need. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 74)

 SABEANISM: “To each according to the works of his hands It is awarded.” “Every man who toiled And was long-suffering shall come and take with both hands, But he who did not toil nor endure, Standeth empty in the House of Dues.” “He will seek but will not find, And ask, but naught will be given him, Because he had in his hand and gave not,” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 123)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93)