does by no means put
a limit or even exclude the possibility of self-sacrifice. There can be no
limit to one's contributions to the national fund. The more one can give
the better it is, especially when such offerings necessitate the sacrifice
of other wants and desires on the part of the donor. The harder the
sacrifice the more meritorious will it be of course in the eye of God. For
after all it is not so much the quantity of one's offerings that matters,
but rather the measure of deprivation that such offerings entail."

41: CONTRIBUTIONS (LIFTING THE BURDEN OF MISERY FROM MANKIND)

"...In the first place every believer is free to follow the dictates of
his own conscience as regards the manner in which to spend his own money.
Secondly, we must always bear in mind that there are so few Baha'is in the
world, relative to the world's population, and so many people in need,
that even if all of us gave all we had, it would not alleviate more than
an infinitesimal amount of suffering. This does not mean we must not help
the needy, we should; but our contributions to the Faith are the surest
way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from
mankind, for it is only through the System of Baha'u'llah--Divine in
origin--that the world can be gotten on its feet, and want, fear, hunger,
war, etc., be eliminated. Non-Baha'is cannot contribute to our work or do
it for us; so really our first obligation is to support our own teaching
work, as this will lead to the healing of the nations."

42: CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VOLUNTARY

"In connection with the Institution of the National Fund and the budgetary
system set forth in the minutes of the National Spiritual Assembly, I feel
urged to remind you of the necessity of ever bearing in mind the cardinal
principle that all contributions to the Fund are to be purely and strictly
voluntary in character. It should be made clear and evident to every one
that any form of compulsion, however slight and indirect, strikes at the
very root principle underlying the formation of the Fund ever since its
inception. While appeals of a general character, carefully worded and
moving and dignified in tone are welcome under all circumstances, it
should be left entirely to the discretion of every conscientious believer
to decide upon the nature, the amount, and purpose of his or her
contribution for the propagation of the Cause."

43: COVENANT (MEANING OF BAHA'I