In the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, the nobility inherent to
every human being is unequivocally asserted; it is a fundamental tenet of
Bahá’í belief, upon which hope for the future of humankind is built. The soul’s
capacity to manifest all the names and attributes of God—He Who is the
Compassionate, the Bestower, the Bountiful—is repeatedly affirmed in the
Writings. Economic life is an arena for the expression of honesty, integrity,
trustworthiness, generosity, and other qualities of the spirit. The individual
is not merely a self-interested economic unit, striving to claim an
ever-greater share of the world’s material resources. “Man’s merit lieth in
service and virtue”, Bahá’u’lláh avers, “and not in the pageantry of wealth and
riches.” And further: “Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the
pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavours be spent in
promoting your personal interest.” By consecrating oneself to the service of
others, one finds meaning and purpose in life and contributes to the upliftment
of society itself.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 1
March 2017)
