Having a good knowledge of God and His laws, and what He wants for us is better than having all that is found in the world and having wisdom in God is better than having choice gold.

 

120. Having a good knowledge of God, His laws, and what He wants for us is better than having all the world and having wisdom in God is better than having choice gold: Our main primary spiritual function in this world is not in the amassing of great wealth and worldly goods, but our true function, in this life, is for the acquiring of spiritual qualities and the knowledge of God, while striving to become closer, in heart and soul, to our loving heavenly Father. This is a teaching found in the Holy Bible, this is also a teaching found in all of God’s holy revealed religions as-well.  Judaism: Proverbs 8:10 “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” Proverbs 8:11 “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”  Christianity: Matthew 6:19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:” 6:20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Whether that be in heaven or this earthly nature below. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 8:7 “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Luke 9:25 “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself.”

 BABI RELIGION: “IT is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God‘s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God‘s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future! He causeth him whom He pleaseth to enter the shadow of His Mercy. Verily, He is the Supreme Protector, the All-Generous.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 77)

BAHA’I FAITH: 55. “O SON OF BEING! “Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.”

(Baha’u’llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

 ISLAM: 9. “O ye who believe! let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah (God). If any act thus, the loss is their own.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  63)

Islam: “Knowledge is for the cherishing of religion, not for amassing wealth.”

(Islamic Miscellaneous, Gulistan of Sa’di (Edwin Arnold tr))

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “It is not proper to pray for material things; one should learn to be content with what he has got. But prayer for spiritual benefit is permissible.” (Zoroaster, Hymns of Atharvan p. 713)

 HINDUISM: “The sacrifice Which Knowledge pays is better than great gifts Offered by wealth.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 4)

 Hinduism: 66. “Families that are rich in the knowledge of the Veda, though possessing little wealth, are numbered among the great.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 3)

 BUDDHISM: 5. “Such is the wish of the fool of increasing desire and pride. One road leads to wealth; another road leads to nirvana. Let the mendicant, the disciple of Buddha, learn this, and not strive for honor but seek wisdom.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 24. “Riches ruin the fool, but not those seeking the Beyond. Craving for wealth, the foolish man Ruins himself.”

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

 SABEANISM: “Great First Word,…. pour wisdom into my heart! Open the eyes of my understanding!” “Wreath is light, its weapon the living word, and its seal the chosen, pure. Every man who openeth it and readeth therein shall live, shall be whole and his name will be set up in the House of Life, in the name of the great Sublime Life from worlds (of light?).” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 63 and 171)

 BABI RELIGION: “Indeed shouldst Thou desire to confer blessing upon a servant Thou wouldst blot out from the realm of his heart every mention or disposition except Thine Own mention; and shouldst Thou ordain evil for a servant by reason of that which his hands have unjustly wrought before Thy face, Thou wouldst test him with the benefits of this world and of the next that he might become preoccupied therewith and forget Thy remembrance.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 191)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Knowledge in the hearts, that the Merciful will reveal Himself in them; this is better unto you than that whereupon the sun riseth;”

(Bahá’í Faith, Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 98)

Baha’i Faith: “O SON OF DUST! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

Baha’i Faith: “O MAN OF TWO VISIONS! Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved.

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Persian Hidden Words)