When God calls a soul to a high station, it is because that soul has capacity for that station as a
gift of God; and because that soul has supplicated to be taken into His
service. No envies, jealousies, calumnies, slanders, plots, nor schemes, will
ever move God to remove a soul from its intended place, for by the grace of
God, such actions on the part of the people are the test of the servant,
testing his strength, forbearance, endurance and sincerity under adversity. At
the same time those who show forth envies, jealousies, etc., toward a servant,
are depriving themselves of their own stations, and not another of his, for
they prove by their own acts that they are not only unworthy of being called to
any station awaiting them, but also prove that they cannot withstand the very
first test - that of rejoicing over the success of their neighbour, at which
God rejoices. Only by such a sincere joy can the gift of God descend upon a
pure heart.
Envy closes the door of Bounty, and jealousy prevents one from
ever attaining to the Kingdom of Abha.
No! Before God! No one can deprive another of his rightful
station, that can only be lost be one's unwillingness to do the will of God, or
by seeking to use the Cause of God for one's own gratification or ambition.
No one save a severed soul or a sincere heart finds response from
God. By assisting in the success of another servant in the Cause does one in
reality lay the foundation for one's own success and aspirations.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, recorded by Dr. Edward C. Getsinger and cited in Star of
the West, vol. 6; no.6, June 24, 1915)