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 A
certain rich man, a Roman citizen and a Stoic, became greatly
interested in Jesus' teaching, having been introduced by Angamon.
After many intimate conferences this wealthy citizen asked Jesus
what he would do with wealth if he had it, and Jesus answered
him: "I would bestow material wealth for the enhancement of
material life, even as I would minister knowledge, wisdom, and
spiritual service for the enrichment of the intellectual life,
the ennoblement of the social life, and the advancement of the
spiritual life. I would administer material wealth as a wise and
effective trustee of the resources of one generation for the
benefit and ennoblement of the next and succeeding generations."
 ut
the rich man was not fully satisfied with Jesus' answer. He made
bold to ask again: "But what do you think a man in my position
should do with his wealth? Should I keep it, or should I give it
away?" And when Jesus perceived that he really desired to know
more of the truth about his loyalty to God and his duty to men,
he further answered: "My good friend, I discern that you are a
sincere seeker after wisdom and an honest lover of truth;
therefore am I minded to lay before you my view of the solution
of your problems having to do with the responsibilities of
wealth. I do this because you have asked for my counsel, and in
giving you this advice, I am not concerned with the wealth of
any other rich man; I am offering advice only to you and for
your personal guidance. If you honestly desire to regard your
wealth as a trust, if you really wish to become a wise and
efficient steward of your accumulated wealth, then would I
counsel you to make the following analysis of the sources of
your riches: Ask yourself, and do your best to find the honest
answer, whence came this wealth? And as a help in the study of
the sources of your great fortune, I would suggest that you bear
in mind the following ten different methods of amassing material
wealth:
 "1.
Inherited wealth--riches derived from parents and other
ancestors.
"2. Discovered wealth--riches derived from the uncultivated
resources of mother earth.
"3. Trade wealth--riches obtained as a fair profit in the
exchange and barter of material goods.
"4.
Unfair wealth--riches derived from the unfair exploitation or
the enslavement of one's fellows.
"5.
Interest wealth--income derived from the fair and just earning
possibilities of invested capital.
"6.
Genius wealth--riches accruing from the rewards of the creative
and inventive endowments of the human mind.
"7.
Accidental wealth--riches derived from the generosity of one's
fellows or taking origin in the circumstances of life.
"8.
Stolen wealth--riches secured by unfairness, dishonesty, theft,
or fraud.
"9.
Trust funds--wealth lodged in your hands by your fellows for
some specific use, now or in the future.
"10.
Earned wealth--riches derived directly from your own personal
labor, the fair and just reward of your own daily efforts of
mind and body.
And
so, my friend, if you would be a faithful and just steward of
your large fortune, before God and in service to men, you must
approximately divide your wealth into these ten grand divisions,
and then proceed to administer each portion in accordance with
the wise and honest interpretation of the laws of justice,
equity, fairness, and true efficiency; albeit, the God of heaven
would not condemn you if sometimes you erred, in doubtful
situations, on the side of merciful and unselfish regard for the
distress of the suffering victims of the unfortunate
circumstances of mortal life. When in honest doubt about the
equity and justice of material situations, let your decisions
favor those who are in need, favor those who suffer the
misfortune of undeserved hardships."
After
discussing these matters for several hours and in response to
the rich man's request for further and more detailed
instruction, Jesus went on to amplify his advice, in substance
saying: "While I offer further suggestions concerning your
attitude toward wealth, I would admonish you to receive my
counsel as given only to you and for your personal guidance. I
speak only for myself and to you as an inquiring friend. I
adjure you not to become a dictator as to how other rich men
shall regard their wealth. I would advise you:
"1.
As steward of inherited wealth you should consider its sources.
You are under moral obligation to represent the past generation
in the honest transmittal of legitimate wealth to succeeding
generations after subtracting a fair toll for the benefit of the
present generation. But you are not obligated to perpetuate any
dishonesty or injustice involved in the unfair accumulation of
wealth by your ancestors. Any portion of your inherited wealth
which turns out to have been derived through fraud or
unfairness, you may disburse in accordance with your convictions
of justice, generosity, and restitution. The remainder of your
legitimate inherited wealth you may use in equity and transmit
in security as the trustee of one generation for another. Wise
discrimination and sound judgment should dictate your decisions
regarding the bequest of riches to your successors.
"2.
Everyone who enjoys wealth as a result of discovery should
remember that one individual can live on earth but a short
season and should, therefore, make adequate provision for the
sharing of these discoveries in helpful ways by the largest
possible number of his fellow men. While the discoverer should
not be denied all reward for efforts of discovery, neither
should he selfishly presume to lay claim to all of the
advantages and blessings to be derived from the uncovering of
nature's hoarded resources.
"3.
As long as men choose to conduct the world's business by trade
and barter, they are entitled to a fair and legitimate profit.
Every tradesman deserves wages for his services; the merchant is
entitled to his hire. The fairness of trade and the honest
treatment accorded one's fellows in the organized business of
the world create many different sorts of profit wealth, and all
these sources of wealth must be judged by the highest principles
of justice, honesty, and fairness. The honest trader should not
hesitate to take the same profit which he would gladly accord
his fellow trader in a similar transaction. While this sort of
wealth is not identical with individually earned income when
business dealings are conducted on a large scale, at the same
time, such honestly accumulated wealth endows its possessor with
a considerable equity as regards a voice in its subsequent
distribution.
"4.
No mortal who knows God and seeks to do the divine will can
stoop to engage in the oppressions of wealth. No noble man will
strive to accumulate riches and amass wealth-power by the
enslavement or unfair exploitation of his brothers in the flesh.
Riches are a moral curse and a spiritual stigma when they are
derived from the sweat of oppressed mortal man. All such wealth
should be restored to those who have thus been robbed or to
their children and their children's children. An enduring
civilization cannot be built upon the practice of defrauding the
laborer of his hire.
"5.
Honest wealth is entitled to interest. As long as men borrow and
lend, that which is fair interest may be collected provided the
capital lent was legitimate wealth. First cleanse your capital
before you lay claim to the interest. Do not become so small and
grasping that you would stoop to the practice of usury. Never
permit yourself to be so selfish as to employ money-power to
gain unfair advantage over your struggling fellows. Yield not to
the temptation to take usury from your
brother in financial distress.
"6.
If you chance to secure wealth by flights of genius, if your
riches are derived from the rewards of inventive endowment, do
not lay claim to an unfair portion of such rewards. The genius
owes something to both his ancestors and his progeny; likewise
is he under obligation to the race, nation, and circumstances of
his inventive discoveries; he should also remember that it was
as man among men that he labored and wrought out his inventions.
It would be equally unjust to deprive the genius of all his
increment of wealth. And it will ever be impossible for men to
establish rules and regulations applicable equally to all these
problems of the equitable distribution of wealth. You must first
recognize man as your brother, and if you honestly desire to do
by him as you would have him do by you, the commonplace dictates
of justice, honesty, and fairness will guide you in the just and
impartial settlement of every recurring problem of economic
rewards and social justice.
"7.
Except for the just and legitimate fees earned in
administration, no man should lay personal claim to that wealth
which time and chance may cause to fall into his hands.
Accidental riches should be regarded somewhat in the light of a
trust to be expended for the benefit of one's social or economic
group. The possessors of such wealth should be accorded the
major voice in the determination of the wise and effective
distribution of such unearned resources. Civilized man will not
always look upon all that he controls as his personal and
private possession.
"8.
If any portion of your fortune has been knowingly derived from
fraud; if aught of your wealth has been accumulated by dishonest
practices or unfair methods; if your riches are the product of
unjust dealings with your fellows, make haste to restore all
these ill-gotten gains to the rightful owners. Make full amends
and thus cleanse your fortune of all dishonest riches.
"9.
The trusteeship of the wealth of one person for the benefit of
others is a solemn and sacred responsibility. Do not hazard or
jeopardize such a trust. Take for yourself of any trust only
that which all honest men would allow.
"10.
That part of your fortune which represents the earnings of your
own mental and physical efforts--if your work has been done in
fairness and equity-- is truly your own. No man can gainsay your
right to hold and use such wealth as you may see fit provided
your exercise of this right does not work harm upon your
fellows."
When
Jesus had finished counseling him, this wealthy Roman arose from
his couch and, in saying farewell for the night, delivered
himself of this promise: "My good friend, I perceive you are a
man of great wisdom and goodness, and tomorrow I will begin the
administration of all my wealth in accordance with your
counsel."
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Fulfilling the
Promise of a Creator Son
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