Monday, April 25, 2011

All Effort Put Forth by Man is Worship if Prompted by Highest Motives and Service

"In the Bahá'í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are counted as worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, is giving praise."

Quoted in J. E. Esslemont, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, 5th rev. ed.
(Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1987), p. 79.