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Have you researched the life of Nietzsche ?
Yeah. He went through pretty much what anybody else goes through. He certainly wasn't depressed throughout his life.
Thank you for bringing up this topic. It is such an important topic and one that is very close to my heart. I really do not think most people understand what we are being called to do in scripture, and I think the reason why is because they don’t want to do it. After all, the world is a lot of fun.
But God intended for it to be that way so we would have to choose who to love more, God or self.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and heart. I think it is an important subject to consider, especially since this temporal world is passing away and eternity is a very long, long time...endless.Thank you for bringing up this topic. It is such an important topic and one that is very close to my heart. I really do not think most people understand what we are being called to do in scripture, and I think the reason why is because they don’t want to do it. After all, the world is a lot of fun.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Baha’u’llah said something very similar to Jesus about the world.
“For every one of you his paramount duty is to choose for himself that on which no other may infringe and none usurp from him. Such a thing—and to this the Almighty is My witness—is the love of God, could ye but perceive it.
Build ye for yourselves such houses as the rain and floods can never destroy, which shall protect you from the changes and chances of this life. This is the instruction of Him Whom the world hath wronged and forsaken.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 261
There are so many passages about the world and what our attitude should be towards it...Just in one book, Gleanings, there are over 100 passages that address the world but below are some of my favorites.
“Verily I say, the world is like the vapor in a desert, which the thirsty dreameth to be water and striveth after it with all his might, until when he cometh unto it, he findeth it to be mere illusion. It may, moreover, be likened unto the lifeless image of the beloved whom the lover hath sought and found, in the end, after long search and to his utmost regret, to be such as cannot “fatten nor appease his hunger.”” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 328-329
“Render thanks unto Him Who is the Desire of all worlds for having invested thee with such high honor. Ere long the world and all that is therein shall be as a thing forgotten, and all honor shall belong to the loved ones of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 306
“Wert thou to consider this world, and realize how fleeting are the things that pertain unto it, thou wouldst choose to tread no path except the path of service to the Cause of thy Lord. None would have the power to deter thee from celebrating His praise, though all men should arise to oppose thee.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 314
“Cleanse from your hearts the love of worldly things, from your tongues every remembrance except His remembrance, from your entire being whatsoever may deter you from beholding His face, or may tempt you to follow the promptings of your evil and corrupt inclinations. Let God be your fear, O people, and be ye of them that tread the path of righteousness....... Disencumber yourselves of all attachment to this world and the vanities thereof. Beware that ye approach them not, inasmuch as they prompt you to walk after your own lusts and covetous desires, and hinder you from entering the straight and glorious Path.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 275-276
Given the passage above, I have a problem reconciling the passage below wherein it says “Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties...”
“Whatsoever deterreth you, in this Day, from loving God is nothing but the world. Flee it, that ye may be numbered with the blest. Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 276
I know what the most Baha’is think about this but I disagree. They think it means that we can eat, drink and be merry as long as we (a) do not break any Baha’i Laws and (b) we can still be close to God. Sorry, but Baha’u’llah clearly says that the world comes in between us and God: “Whatsoever deterreth you, in this Day, from loving God is nothing but the world.” How much clearer can He be?
This is the only passage I know of in all of His Writings where He says to eat of the good things. I am tired of arguing about this. I have made my decision. My decision is not only based upon what Baha’u’llah wrote, but also upon my own experience. I know full well that the world comes in between me and God because I lived for the world most of my life and I was far from God. I am still not that close to God, but I am much closer now than I ever was before since I decided I have no interest in the mortal world of dust, except for my cats and other animals.
Attachment to the things of the flesh are really the biggest obstacle to spiritual growth because they only lead to one thing, selfish desire. People think these things make them happy but they are not truly happy, and the sad thing is that they do not even know the difference between spiritual happiness and physical pleasure.
John 12:24-26 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
Matthew 16:23-26 “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
I rest my case.
That is certainly a logical way to look at it.
