According to our Writings: "Oh, friends of God! If ye will trust in the Word of God and be strong; if ye will follow the precepts of Bahá'u'lláh to tend the sick, raise the fallen, care for the poor and needy, give shelter to the destitute, protect the oppressed, comfort the sorrowful and love the world of humanity with all your hearts, then I say unto you that ere long this meeting-place will see a wonderful harvest. Day by day each member will advance and become more and more spiritual." (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 73)
Because we are not a very big community yet, it is sometimes hard to put this teaching into practice. Some communities are better at it than others. It is a learning process and is coming more to the fore in community efforts instead of individual efforts. I expect that we will see a big jump in working with the poor, etc., in the next five years because of goals in the Five Year Plan.
Baha'u'llah came from a rich and powerful family, and gave most or all of his portion of the wealth to helping the poor. by becoming a Babi he lost all his power and prestige.
in today's world... "feeding" versus "teaching to fish" is a balancing act.
in order to teach the world that God has delivered a real, and implementable solution to all humanity for:
While I was answering the question literally, AKA has brought up a good point. As more people become Baha'i, the care of the poor will be easier because the idea of the Baha'i Faith is that if someone else is hurting or being oppressed, we are all being hurt and oppressed in some way as well. This has implications in many of the teachings of the Baha'i Faith such as the equality of men and women. For example, while it is apparent that the situation of women will improve as the stations of men and women become more equal, it is harder for many to see how the station of men also improves. Equality also helps humanity to advance spiritually and to create peace on earth, for it is impossible for there to be peace if half of the world's population is oppressed.
Likewise, in the Kitab-i-Iqan, Baha'u'llah says:
What "oppression" is greater than that which hath been recounted? What "oppression" is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. This "oppression" is the essential feature of every Revelation. Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest. For the break of the morn of divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error. For this reason, in all chronicles and traditions reference hath been made unto these things, namely that iniquity shall cover the surface of the earth and darkness shall envelop mankind. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 31)
In sharing information about the Baha'i Faith with others, Baha'is are helping to alleviate this oppression. In the last 15 years we have become much better at doing this and should continue to improve in the future.
