Work is not a curse or a burden, but a blessing and a gift from God. Many people do not enjoy their work. If you haven't made up your mind about reincarnation, just watch the way some people come back to life at quitting time (1:12)

The hand that is rough with labor is fit to hold the hand of God. In the estimation of God, Baha'u'llah teaches, work equates with worship. All are encouraged to invest their talents in a craft or profession. (1:13)

It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation...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.7 Baha'u'llah (1:14)

Baha'u'llah's teachings change the pain of working into the pleasure of serving and glorifying God. They transform a worker's perspective from 'how many hours did I put in' into 'how much did I put in the hours.' A cheerful attitude always lightens the burden. The worthiest gifts to God are wrapped in a desire to serve Him and tied with a passion to love Him. Baha'u'llah teaches that serving and pleasing people is the same as serving and pleasing God. (1:15)

Elimination of prejudice. Being prejudiced is identical to being narrow-minded. A mind that is already set stands as an obstacle to understanding, harmony, peace, and unity. Today, many kinds of prejudice prevail: racism, sexism, sectarianism, and nationalism. (1:16)

Ye observe how the world is divided against itself, how many a land is red with blood...And the breeding-ground of all these tragedies is prejudice: prejudice of race and nation, of religion, of political opinion; and the root cause of prejudice is blind imitation of the past- imitation in religion, in racial attitudes, in national bias, in politics. So long as this aping of the past persisteth, just so long will the foundations of the social order be blown to the four winds, just so long will humanity be continually exposed to direst peril.8 'Abdu'l-Baha (1:17)

Unity in diversity. We have many distinct walls. Let us make a bridge to connect them all. The world is slowly learning that because two believers think differently, neither need be wicked. Unity in diversity declares this most fundamental message:

In essentials- unity
In nonessentials- diversity
In all things- love (1:18)

'Abdu'l-Baha explains this principle: (1:19)

When divers shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas, and convictions of the children of men.9 'Abdu'l-Baha (1:20)

A new world order. A religion that intends to unify the world must have a plan for global unity and set an example of order and harmony in the way it directs its own affairs. (1:21)

Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen. 10 Baha'u'llah (1:22)

The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead. He, verily, is powerful over all things.11 Baha'u'llah (1:23)

Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth, that haply the dissensions that divide it may...be blotted out from its face, and all mankind become the upholders of one Order, and the inhabitants of one City.12 Baha'u'llah (1:24)

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