Worship God in all things.

 

267. Worship God in all things, in daily work, in prayers, in fasting, in the study of the word, in everything you do: To worship God in all things, in everything we do, is a teaching found in the Bahá’í Faith. This is also a teaching found in the other religions as well and is well documented here in this work. The only difference I find is God has elevated the state of work and education to the station of worship of God, but this is not a concept completely unknown to the other religions of God, you will see as you read this. In the other religions we have to make an active effort on our part to worship God in everything we do, consciously making the effort.  Judaism: Deuteronomy 11:13 “Hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love The LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,” in everything you do. 13:3 “For The LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love The LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 26:10 “Worship before The LORD thy God: And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which The LORD thy God hath given unto thee.” Psalms 92:1 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto The Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High:” 92:2 “Shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Psalms 92:4 “For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.” 96:7 “Give unto The LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto The LORD glory.” 96:8 “Give unto The LORD the glory due unto His name.” Jeremiah 13:16 “Give glory to The LORD your God.” Joshua 7:19 “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to The LORD God of Israel,” at all times, in every thing you do.  Christianity: 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2 “Give thanks to God always,” 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “We are bound to give thanks always to God.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 26)

BABI RELIGION: “He prayed and worked unceasingly. His meekness was unfailing. Those who came near him felt in spite of themselves the fascinating influence of his personality, of his manner and of his speech.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 501)

 CHRISTIANITY: Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “As thou enterest a school of agriculture and strivest in the acquisition of that science thou art day and night engaged in acts of worship — acts that are accepted at the threshold of the Almighty. What bounty greater than this that science should be considered as an act of worship and art as service to the Kingdom of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 377)

 CHRISTIANITY: Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Bahá’u’lláh had also in His writings given a most important place to Art, and the practice of skilled trades. He had stated that the practice of an Art or Trade in the true spirit of service was identical with the worship of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 71)

Baha’i Faith: “Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents…’ Observe how loving kindness to one’s parents hath been linked to recognition of the one true God! Happy they who are endued with true wisdom and understanding, who see and perceive, who read and understand, and who observe that which God hath revealed in the Holy Books of old, and in this incomparable and wondrous Tablet.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 139)

ISLAM: “You must finish a day’s work on that day only because each day will bring its own special work for you. Reserve your best time for prayers to Allah (God), though every work of the State is the work of Allah, especially, if you are sincere and honest. Leave everything to the Will of Allah. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth; everything renders worship to Him.”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh and The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always;” (In everything you do.)

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8, Book 76, Number 470)

Islam: 3. “This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not celebrate His praises?” 66. “Worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 10 and 39)

ZOROASTRIANISM: “Whatever I may happen to do, that is Your worship.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 615)

Zoroastrianism: “Whatever I may happen to do, and what I may perform by my deeds, and what by perception I discern to be worthy, O Mazda (God), all these are for your gracious glory.” “We should not rest content merely with formal prayers, but it should be our aim to turn every act of ours into worship.” “When every act is done in the spirit of worship, it raises a man’s consciousness to the highest level, his whole life becomes a life of incessant prayer. He is always in the presence of Mazda.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 714, 716 and 717)

Zoroastrianism: 1. “For His Holy Spirit and for Best Thought, deed, and word, in accordance with Right Mazda Ahura with Dominion and Piety shall give us Welfare and Immortality.” 2. “The best (work) of this most holy Spirit he fulfills with the tongue through words of Good Thought, with work of his hands through the action of Piety, by virtue of this knowledge: he, even Mazda, is the Father of Right. So take counsel with thine own understanding, with good insight practice the holiest works of Piety.” 1. “Thus therefore do we worship Ahura Mazda, who made the Kine (the living creation), and the (embodied) Righteousness (which is incarnate in the clean), and the waters, and the wholesome plants, the stars, and the earth, and all (existing) objects that are good. 2. Yea, we worship Him for His Sovereign Power and His greatness, beneficent (as they are.)”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 37, 47 and 53)

Zoroastrianism: “The will of The Lord is the law of holiness: the riches of Vohu-Mano shall he given to him who works in this world for Mazda, and wields according to the will of Ahura the power he gave him to relieve the poor.” “Thus therefore do we worship Ahura Mazda.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1

Zoroastrianism: 3. “He who recites the praise of Holiness, in the fullness of faith and with a devoted heart, praises Me, Ahura Mazda; he praises the waters, he praises the earth, he praises the cattle, he praises the plants, he praises all good things made by Mazda, all the things that are the offspring of the good principle.” (Praise and worship God/Ahura Mazda in everything)

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

Zoroastrianism: “By all that he does, O Mazda, the sage accomplishes Your worship (all his work is worship).” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 282)

HINDUISM: “Regard as true Renouncer him that makes Worship by work, for who renounceth not Works not as Yogin. So is that well said: By works the votary doth rise to faith,”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 6)

Hinduism: “Whatever thou doest, Prince! Eating or sacrificing, giving gifts, Praying or fasting, let it all be done For Me,”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 9)

Hinduism: “Do all thou dost for Me! Renounce for Me! Sacrifice heart and mind and will to Me! Live in the faith of Me! In faith of Me All dangers thou shalt vanquish, by My grace;”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 18)

BUDDHISM: 26. “The Truth Sublime Which the Awakened One proclaimed, Devotedly should one revere Him.” In all we do we should revere Him devoutly.

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

SABEANISM: “Do not forget your Lord in your thoughts. In your coming in and your going out be careful not to forget your Lord. In your coming and going be careful not to forget your Lord. In your sitting and your standing be careful not to forget your Lord. In your resting and your lying down be careful not to forget your Lord.” (Sabeanism, Instruction of Adam)

Sabeanism: “We have acknowledged and praises (are due) To the mighty sublime First Life (God), The Ineffable which is over all works. (I come), bringing (dedicating) my head and my mouth To the Life and to the implanted Word And to ‘Usar-Hiia, the great solace and support of Life In order to praise, honour, magnify, bless and exalt Thee Thou art lauded, Thou art magnified, thou art glorified And Thou art exalted!” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

BABI RELIGION: “O LORD! Unto Thee I repair for refuge and toward all Thy signs I set my heart. O Lord! Whether traveling or at home, and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in Thee.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 193)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Worship none but God, and, with radiant hearts, lift up your faces unto your Lord, the Lord of all names. This is a Revelation to which whatever ye possess can never be compared, could ye but know it.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 210)