|
Presentation by Epochal
Revelation through the Universal Family of God
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."
 But
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."
▼Source▼
U B
|
