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Service |
Devotion to God implies a life of service to our fellow-
creatures. We can be of service to God in no other way. If we
turn our backs on our fellowmen, we are turning our backs
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upon God. Christ said, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the
least of these, ye did it not to Me.” So Bahá’u’lláh says:—“O son
of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things
that profit thee, and cleave unto that which will profit mankind.
And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy
neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.”—Words of
Paradise.
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In the Bahá’í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are
counted as worship. The man who makes a piece of note-
paper 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.
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