“Promote ye the development of the cities of God and His countries, and glorify Him therein in the joyous accents of His well-favoured ones. In truth, the hearts of men are edified through the power of the tongue, even as houses and cities are built up by the hand and other means. We have assigned to every end a means for its accomplishment; avail yourselves thereof, and place your trust and confidence in God, the Omniscient, the All-Wise.” – Kitab-i-Aqdas, paragraph 160
“... Since only those who have openly proclaimed their recognition of Bahá’u’lláh are permitted to contribute financially to the establishment of His world order, it is apparent that more, much more, is required from the few now so privileged. Our responsibilities in this field are very great, commensurate indeed with the bounty of being the bearers of the Name of God in this Day.” Message from the Universal House of Justice, dated Ridván 1966, to the Bahá’ís of the World
“Real growth of your material resources will come about through two primary means: increase in the number of believers, and increase in the effectiveness of the education of the believers concerning their spiritual obligations, among which is financial support of Bahá’í institutions.” Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated April 26, 1993, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
“Any Bahá’í can give to the Cause’s Funds, adult or child. ... Bahá’í children have always given to the Cause, everywhere.” Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, dated August 18, 1949, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, in The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. 1, p. 308
“The initiatives that youth can take in various fields of development, education and administration is great indeed. It is essential that, from an early age, they learn to shoulder their responsibilities, including their sacred duty to contribute generously to the funds of the Faith.” Email written on behalf the Universal House of Justice, dated December 17, 1998, to the National Youth Committee of India
The future civilization envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh is a prosperous one, in which the vast resources of the world will be directed towards humanity’s elevation and regeneration, not its debasement and destruction. The act of contributing to the Fund, then, is imbued with profound meaning: it is a practical way of hastening the advent of that civilization, and a necessary one, for as Bahá’u’lláh Himself has explained, “He Who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be His glory—hath made the fulfilment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material means.” Bahá’ís conduct their lives in the midst of a society acutely disordered in its material affairs. The process of community building they are advancing in their clusters cultivates a set of attitudes towards wealth and possessions very different from those holding sway in the world. The habit of regularly giving to the Funds of the Faith—including in-kind contributions particularly in certain places—arises from and reinforces a sense of personal concern for the welfare of the community and the progress of the Cause. The duty to contribute, just like the duty to teach, is a fundamental aspect of Bahá’í identity which strengthens faith. The sacrificial and generous contributions of the individual believer, the collective consciousness promoted by the community of the needs of the Fund, and the careful stewardship of financial resources exercised by the institutions of the Faith can be regarded as expressions of the love that binds these three actors more closely together. And ultimately, voluntary giving fosters an awareness that managing one’s financial affairs in accordance with spiritual principles is an indispensable dimension of a life lived coherently. It is a matter of conscience, a way in which commitment to the betterment of the world is translated into practice. The Universal House of Justice December 29, 2015
“As the activities of the American Bahá’í community expand ... the institution of the National Fund ... acquires added importance, and should be increasingly supported by the entire body of believers, both in their individual capacities, and through their collective efforts, whether organized as groups or as local Assemblies.” Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, par.81