Wealth

What would you do with wealth once accumulated? Here’s one approach that makes sense to me.

Bestow material wealth for the enhancement of material life, even as you 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.  Administer wealth as a wise and effective trustee of the resources of one generation for the benefit and ennoblement of the next and succeeding generations.

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 make an analysis of the sources of your riches.  Ask yourself, and be honest with yourself, whence came this wealth?  Bear in mind the following ten different methods of amassing material wealth:

1. Inherited wealth – riches derived from parents and 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. Discovered wealth – riches derived from the uncultivated resources of mother earth.

Remember that one individual can live on earth but a short season and should, therefore, make an adequate provision for the sharing of these discoveries in helpful ways with the largest possible number of people.  While the discoverer should not be denied all reward for efforts of discovery, neither should a selfish claim to all the advantages and blessings to be derived from the uncovering of nature’s resources be made.

3. Trade wealth – riches obtained as a fair profit in the exchange and barter of material goods.

Profits from trade and barter must be judged by the highest principles of justice, honesty and fairness. An honest trader should not hesitate to take the same profit which would gladly be accorded a fellow trader in a similar transaction. When business dealings are conducted on a large scale such honestly accumulated wealth endows its possessor with a considerable equity as regards a voice in its subsequent distribution.

4. Unfair wealth – riches derived from the unfair exploitation or the enslavement of one’s fellows.

Riches are a moral curse and a spiritual stigma when they are derived from the sweat of the oppressed.  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. Interest wealth – income derived from the fair and just earning possibilities of invested capital.

That which is fair interest may be collected provided the capital lent was legitimate wealth. First cleanse your capital before laying claim to 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 someone in financial distress.

6. Genius wealth – riches accruing from the creative and inventive endowments of the human mind.

The genius owes something to both ancestors and progeny. Likewise there is an obligation to the race, nation, and circumstances of the inventive discoveries. It was as a member of society that genius was nurtured. It is impossible to establish rules and regulations applicable equally to all problems of the equitable distribution of wealth.  The commonplace dictates of justice, honesty and fairness should guide you in just and impartial settlements.

7. Accidental wealth – riches derived from another’s generosity or originating in life’s circumstances.

No one should lay claim to that wealth which time and chance may cause to fall into one’s possession. Except for just and legitimate fees for administering this wealth, it should be regarded somewhat in the light of a trust to be expended for the benefit of one’s social or economic group. Though the possessor of such wealth should be the major voice in the determination of the wise and effective distribution of such unearned resources, it should not be looked upon as a personal and private possession.

8. Stolen wealth – riches secured by unfairness, dishonesty, theft or fraud.

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.

9. Trust funds – wealth lodged in your hands for some specific use, now or in the future.

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 only that which all honest trustees would allow.

10. Earned wealth – riches derived from personal labor: your own daily efforts of mind and body.

That part of your fortune that 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 one 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.

And so, if you would become a faithful and just steward of your wealth, 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.  When in doubt, err on the side of merciful and unselfish regard for the distress of the suffering victims of the unfortunate circumstances of mortal life.  Let your decisions favor those who are in need, favor those who suffer misfortune of undeserved hardships.

Source: The Urantia Book, page 1463.