BAHÁ'Í FAITH

Moderation In All Things 

 

In our present culture, with its emphasis on material acquisitions, most can benefit from downsizing; an unhealthy obsession with possessions can have grave consequences. Abdu’l-Baha asks, “Why do you drown yourselves in a sea of materialism?...[S]ome men’s lives are solely occupied with the things of this world; their minds are so circumscribed by… traditional interests that they are blind to…the spiritual significance of all things!”

 

On the other hand, Baha’is are NOT required to live austere lives, but to enjoy God’s bounties--in moderation. The Baha’i doctrine situates enjoyment of the things of this world within a life of gratitude towards God.  It is essential for those with an abundance of resources to give charitably to others in a spirit of loving compassion. Baha’u’llah tells us, “Wealth is praiseworthy…if it is acquired by an individual’s own efforts and the grace of God and if some be expended in philanthropic purposes.”