You\u2019ve probably heard of the Protestant work ethic from the renowned sociologist Max Weber\u2019s classic treatise, \u201cThe Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,\u201d which links Puritanism to modern capitalism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But did you know that Baha\u2019is have their own work ethic? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Baha\u2019i work ethic, as I understand it, consists of three important elements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(1) independence<\/em> \u2013 acquiring and practicing a self-sustaining livelihood; <\/p>\n\n\n\n (2) excellence<\/em> \u2013 striving for and achieving a high standard of skill and quality workmanship in pursuit of one\u2019s profession; and <\/p>\n\n\n\n (3) service<\/em> \u2013 performing work in the spirit of contributing to the welfare of humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED: Is Accumulating Wealth the Point of Life?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In further exploring this distinctive Baha\u2019i principle, let\u2019s revisit Abdu\u2019l-Baha\u2019s <\/a>brief presentation of this new and distinctive Baha\u2019i teaching in his November 15, 1912 discourse<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 [Baha\u2019u\u2019llah] teaches that it is incumbent upon every soul to be qualified as the practicer of some useful trade, craft or profession and that the honest practice of such trade, craft or profession is to be regarded as an act of devotion. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But the teachings of [Baha\u2019u\u2019llah] are limitless and there is no time now to go into further details. The point is that these teachings are new and that they are not to be found in any of the religious books of the past.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at each of the three key elements of the Baha\u2019i work ethic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baha\u2019u\u2019llah wrote<\/a> the \u201cWords of Wisdom,\u201d a series of spiritual, moral, and otherwise practical maxims, one of which concerns the duty and virtue of earning one\u2019s livelihood:<\/p>\n\n\n\n True reliance is for the servant to pursue his profession and calling in this world, to hold fast unto the Lord, to seek naught but His grace, inasmuch as in His Hands is the destiny of all His servants.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Here, \u201ctrue reliance\u201d can be understood to mean \u201cself-reliance,\u201d which the Oxford English Dictionary<\/em> defines as: \u201cReliance on one\u2019s own abilities and resources rather than those of others; independence, self-sufficiency.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there a greater social good involved in the independent, self-reliant pursuit of one\u2019s chosen profession and means of livelihood? In the work known as the Glad-Tidings<\/em>, which Baha\u2019u\u2019llah addressed to the people of the world, work is exalted to the rank of the worship of God. In the twelfth Glad-Tidings, Baha\u2019u\u2019llah wrote<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the daystar of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In other words, earning a living now becomes a sanctified undertaking with spiritual, as well as social, value \u2014 perhaps considered sacred because<\/em> of its social value. In the Baha\u2019i writings, the pursuit of one\u2019s livelihood is accounted as worship of God not only since it is self-sustaining \u2014 thus exemplifying the virtue of \u201ctrue reliance\u201d \u2014 but because it is also for the good and well-being of others, for their welfare and benefit, and not intrinsically due to any capital or personal gain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Baha\u2019is, independence is its own virtue. Beyond that, excellence endows independence with an even greater purpose and value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earning your livelihood in pursuit of your profession not only has intrinsic value, but potentially and ideally contributes to beauty and perfection in society, as indicated by Abdu\u2019l-Baha in the following passage<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n O thou servant of the One true God! In this universal dispensation man\u2019s wondrous craftsmanship is reckoned as worship of the Resplendent Beauty. Consider what a bounty and blessing it is that craftsmanship is regarded as worship. In former times, it was believed that such skills were tantamount to ignorance, if not a misfortune, hindering man from drawing nigh unto God. Now consider how His infinite bestowals and abundant favors have changed hellfire into blissful paradise, and a heap of dark dust into a luminous garden.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It behooveth the craftsmen of the world at each moment to offer a thousand tokens of gratitude at the Sacred Threshold, and to exert their highest endeavor and diligently pursue their professions so that their efforts may produce that which will manifest the greatest beauty and perfection before the eyes of all men.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n After independence and excellence, service sanctifies work even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED: 4 Quotes on Spiritual Service that Guide My Professional Work<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Universal House of Justice, the democratically-elected global leadership body of the world\u2019s Baha\u2019is, wrote<\/a> in 2017: \u201cIndeed, service to others and to society is a hallmark of the Baha\u2019i life.<\/strong>\u201d This includes service to others in the course of work or during one\u2019s free time as well. Service is of such paramount importance that Baha\u2019u\u2019llah<\/a> has written<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
Independence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Excellence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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