Rich in God

Rich in God.

 

199. Rich in God! To be poor in all save God makes a man rich in heavenly blessings of God: It is a teaching in the Bahá’í Faith, and to a lesser extent the writings of the Holy Bible  and the other religions, that true riches are spiritual in nature and are bestowed upon us by God in His great mercy.

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “Woe and misery to the soul that seeketh after comforts, riches, and earthly delights while neglecting to call God to mind!”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 240)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “True knowledge, therefore, is the knowledge of God, and this is none other than the recognition of His Manifestation in each Dispensation. Nor is there any wealth save in poverty in all save God and sanctity from aught else but Him.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 88)

Jewish symbols-13pix JUDAISM: Psalms 27:16 “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” A man can be rich in the material wealth of this world and yet be essentially poor when it comes to the spirit and the things of God. What is needed for spiritual health is for man to keep wealth in perspective when it comes to God. True wealth is found in the next world and it comes to us from being blessed by God. Psalms 62:10 “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Proverbs 13:7 “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of The LORD, it maketh rich…..” Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of The LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” It is the blessings of The Lord that maketh man truly rich, in a wealth that is everlasting, in a wealth that really matters because it will follow us throughout our entire existence. Tobias 4:21 “And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in His sight.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha)  the cross-5pix Christianity: Luke 12:21 “He that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (that man has nothing).” Luke 12:22 “I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.” Luke 12:23 “Life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.” You can amass all the riches of the world but if you are not rich in God you will have nothing in the end, all of your accumulated wealth cannot buy you into the good graces of the Desired One. Jewish symbols star-8pix Judaism: Psalms 49:7 “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” the cross-5pix Christianity: Matthew 19:20 “The young man saith unto him (Jesus), All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?“ 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” 19:22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” 19:23 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 19:24 “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Revelations 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “The bright rays of union will obliterate the darkness of limitations, and the splendours of heaven will make the human heart to be even as a mine veined richly with the love of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 19)

the cross-25pix CHRISTIANITY: 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;” Paul states it plainly here, in Timothy: riches come to us from God, but true wealth is found in good works performed in the desire to please God and help His servants. Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” James 2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?”

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “This poverty and these riches, this abasement and glory, this dominion, power, and the like, upon which the eyes and hearts of these vain and foolish souls are set, — all these things fade into utter nothingness in that Court! Even as He hath said: ‘O men! Ye are but paupers in need of God; but God is the Rich, the Self-Sufficing.’ By ‘riches’ therefore is meant independence of all else but God, and by ‘poverty’ the lack of things that are of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 131)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “Nor is there any wealth save in poverty in all save God and sanctity from aught else but Him — a state that can be realized only when demonstrated towards Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 89)

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 212. “The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the Day of Resurrection; for Allah (God) bestows His abundance without measures on whom He will.” 58. “Say: ‘In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy — in that let them rejoice:’ that is better than the (wealth) they hoard.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2 and  10)

Islamic symbol-5pix 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) but such people are few in number” “The Prophet said, ‘Riches does not mean, having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment (in Allah God).”’

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8, Book 76, # 450 and 453)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: “What is Your Kingdom, Your riches; how may I be Your own in my actions, to nourish Your poor, O Mazda (God)?” “Praise be to thee, O Haoma, for he makes the poor man’s thoughts as great as any of the richest whomsoever. Praise be to Haoma, for he makes the poor man’s thoughts as great as when mind reacheth culmination.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 10 and 27)

Zoroastrian symbol-5pix Zoroastrianism: “We sacrifice for all the houses protected by Sraosha, where the holy Sraosha is dear and friendly treated and satisfied, as well as the faithful man, rich in good thoughts, rich in good words, rich in good deeds (rich in Ahura Mazda, God).”

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

Zoroastrian symbol-5pix Zoroastrianism: Denkard. Zoroaster, “Every person should desire spirituals wealth, since whoso solicits it, may obtain it.” “Material wealth should not be immoderately embellished; since the man who immoderately embellishes material (wealth), is a destroyer of spiritual (wealth).” “Material wealth should be embellished to such an extent that spiritual wealth may not waste away (thereby). “Every person should desire spirituals wealth,” “That man is most fortunate who so mingles this decaying wealth of the world with that which is undecaying that, when he passes away from (this) world, he attains Heaven.”

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: “This gentle Lord gives wisdom to the simple: the wiser God leads on the wise to riches.” “Send to us in a stream celestial riches. STREAM on us riches that are sought by many, best at winning strength.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Rig Veda – Books 7 and 9)

Hindu symbol 5-pix Hinduism: “With thy lofty beams, with thy pure brilliancy, O God, Kindled, most youthful one! by Bharadvaja’s hand, shine on us richly, Holy Lord!” “Thou art the abode of riches (vitta) for me.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda – Kanda VI)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: “Riches destroy the foolish, not those who seek beyond. By craving for riches the fool destroys oneself, as one destroys others.” “But the one whom those who discriminate praise continually day after day as without fault, wise, rich in knowledge and virtue, who would dare to blame that person, who is like a gold coin from the Jambu river?”

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

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM: “To each according to the works of his hands It is awarded,” in the spiritual existence found in the next world. “Every man who toiled And was long-suffering shall come and take with both hands (of his treasures laid up, for him, with Haiyi, God), 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,” His spirit standeth in need for he accumulated no wealth pertaining to The Great First Life and he has no good deeds laid up for himself with God to sustain him in his hour of need. Poor is he indeed. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 123)