One of the world’s greatest driving forces is the desire for wealth. So many wars have been fought for money, and millions of lives have been lost in the pursuit of it.
One of the world’s greatest driving forces is the desire for wealth. So many wars have been fought for money, and millions of lives have been lost in the pursuit of it. Every aspect of modern life is under its spell, and yet we really cannot define it. Wealth and money mean different things to different people, and they serve different purposes.
Investopedia defines wealth as: “the value of all the assets of worth owned by a person, community, company or country. Wealth is determined by taking the totalmarket valueof all physical andintangible assetsowned, then subtracting all debts. Essentially, wealth is the accumulation of resources. Specific people, organizations and nations are said to be wealthy when they are able to accumulate many valuable resources or goods.”
In a simple language, it means all the worldly possessions a person has accumulated.
In economic terms, wealth is explained in many ways — net worth for individuals and gross national product “GNP” for countries.
Before money was introduced, different societies had their exchange systems to create wealth and used wheat, rice, salt, cattle, and livestock. Silver and gold were used before currencies came to being, and since then, money has become the most commonmeans of measuring wealth.
Considering all that, I’ve been thinking about defining wealth from a Baha'i point of view.
“The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy. This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendour hath revealed.”-Baha’u’llah
This is the spiritual definition of true wealth. I understand it to mean that we acquire spiritual wealth when we work to develop virtues such as trustworthiness, truthfulness, assertiveness, compassion, honesty, honour, prayerfulness, etc.
If we spend our lives developing virtues, we will have something to show for it when our time in this world of material existence comes to an end, as these developed qualities will assist us in our next stage of existence.
Developing these virtues will naturally affect our financial and material lives.
I see wealth as an amazing tool for service to humanity, and I have not shied away from using my God-given abilities to strive to create wealth with this in mind.
The materialistic and capitalistic world that we live in tries to convince us that there is no higher goal in life than buying and consuming. In these confusing times where “the cancer of consumerism”has taken hold of humanity, the Baha'i teachings tell us to look at wealth and life differently. Rather than living solely to maximize our pleasure, we can try our best to love the Creator and seek God's pleasure, and therefore love His creation — humanity. Instead of focusing only on personal satisfaction, we can turn away from ourselves and focus on a higher purpose. In this sense, we will be truly wealthy.
At that end of life, wealth loses its glitter and its charm, and the only thing that will satisfy our soul would be the fact that we understood the true meaning of wealth and used our material wealth for the good of others.
Badi Shamsis a Baha’i and a mystic at heart, whosefield of interest is in economics. He has published a compilation "Economics of the Future", and also more recently the book "Economics of the Future Begins Today". He is retired from the educational system. You can read more of Badi's materials on his websitewww.badishams.net
You can read more articles on our interfaith log, Spiritually Speaking, HERE
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FAQs
“The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy. This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendour hath revealed.” - Baha'u'llah. This is the spiritual definition of true wealth.
What does money represent spiritually? ›
We placed money squarely in the spiritual realm because money represents a token of participation in the economy. We learned that money is both God's way of rewarding us for serving his other children and of motivating us to do so.
What is wealth according to God? ›
Wealth includes adequate physical possessions to live and flourish as a human being created in the image of God, and it also requires a specific heart attitude toward the purpose of possessions.”[ ii]
How to get wealthy spiritually? ›
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Practice mindfulness and self-awareness. One of the first steps towards cultivating spiritual wealth is to become more self-aware. ...
- Connect with others. ...
- Cultivate gratitude. ...
- Practice forgiveness. ...
- Commit to personal growth.
There are spiritual riches concerning who we are (Ephesians 1:3-13), and there are spiritual riches concerning how we live (2 Peter 1:3). The apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:4-6 that God has given us these spiritual riches at conversion. He says, “in every way you were enriched in him.” Isn't that fascinating?
What does wealth mean spiritually? ›
This is the spiritual definition of true wealth. I understand it to mean that we acquire spiritual wealth when we work to develop virtues such as trustworthiness, truthfulness, assertiveness, compassion, honesty, honour, prayerfulness, etc.
What is the deeper meaning of money? ›
Money means more than the coin, paper or plastic to acquire goods and services. Money is linked to complex emotions, feelings and behaviors. Each person has "money messages" that are based on past experiences, what you observed and what you were taught.
What is the spiritual principle of wealth? ›
DEUTERONOMY 8:18, PSALM 24:1
All wealth comes from God, belongs to God, honors God, and is a blessing from God. When we accept that wealth is God's instead of ours, we are better equipped to manage it. Managing one's wealth Biblically calls for wisdom.
What does God say about wealth? ›
Philippians 4:19: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 10:22: The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 2 Corinthians 9:8: And God will generously provide all you need.
Is wealth a blessing from God? ›
Proverbs 10:22 tells us that “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it”.
18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
What to keep in a purse to attract money? ›
Rice is a symbol of Goddess Laxmi and you can mix it with turmeric and then keep it your wallet to attract more wealth, money and financial stability.
How to attract good luck and wealth spiritually? ›
How many of these rituals for abundance and luck have you tried?
- Get a lucky plant. ...
- Declutter and clean your space. ...
- Practice candle magic. ...
- Do a bath ritual. ...
- Sprinkle cinnamon near your front door. ...
- Say “Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first of each month. ...
- Hang a horseshoe in your doorway. ...
- Recite abundance affirmations.
God's intentions for wealth and prosperity
God desires that His children use their wealth and prosperity to bring about positive change in the world. He calls us to be good stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us, using them to bless others and advance His kingdom on Earth.
What did Jesus believe about wealth? ›
Kahan cites Jesus' injunction against amassing material wealth as an example that the "good [Christian] life was one of poverty and charity, storing up treasures in heaven instead of earth." Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
What is the powerful Bible verse for wealth? ›
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
What does money symbolize? ›
What Does Money Symbolize? In an economic context, money symbolizes perceived value. This allows money to be used as a means of exchanging goods and services. On a personal level, money can symbolize intangible qualities, including wealth, safety, status, and more.
What is God saying about money? ›
Additionally, it is wise to not have a greedy obsession with money, putting a love of money before your love for God. Hebrews 13:5 tells us, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
What type of power does money represent? ›
Money is a social power that operates at all levels - formal, informal, legitimate, illegitimate, fundamental, surface, regional and global. Not all social powers have that capacity. Conventional economic theories see the function of money as a means of exchange, unit of account and store of value.
What is the biblical meaning of money? ›
The biblical teaching on money is thus two-fold: money is a gift from God, a sign of his blessing. But it is not to be a god in itself. The Bible is not ascetic; poverty is not inherently virtuous, nor is wealth sinful. But true wealth, the Bible teaches us, is spiritual, not material.
One of the world’s greatest driving forces is the desire for wealth. So many wars have been fought for money, and millions of lives have been lost in the pursuit of it. Every aspect of modern life is under its spell, and yet we really cannot define it. Wealth and money mean different things to different people, and they serve different purposes.
Badi Shamsis a Baha’i and a mystic at heart, whosefield of interest is in economics. He has published a compilation "Economics of the Future", and also more recently the book "Economics of the Future Begins Today". He is retired from the educational system. You can read more of Badi's materials on his websitewww.badishams.net