Jesus Counsels the Rich Man 

A rich man became interested in Jesus’ teachings and sought out many intimate conferences with Jesus. He was a Roman citizen and a Stoic, and finally asked Jesus what he would do with wealth if he possessed it. Jesus stated generically that he would try to do good with it, something to benefit others. He would utilize material wealth for the enhancement of material life, just as one should minister knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual service to enrich the intellectual life, ennoble the social life, and advance one's spiritual life. In addition, he would set aside some material wealth to benefit future generations.

The rich man was looking for more exact instructions, so he asked specifically what a man in his position should do: keep it or give it away. Jesus realized this man really wanted to know his duty to God and his fellow man. He was longing for wisdom and evidenced a love for the truth. Jesus, therefore, offered him guidance to apply to him, and only him; this was personal advice for this specific individual. Jesus directed him not to take these teachings and tell others how to handle their funds.

One who truly regards wealth as a trust and desires to be a wise and efficient steward must reflect seriously on two questions: first, how did you obtain this wealth, and second, did you adhere to legitimate, moral, and spiritual principles?

How did you gain this wealth? Divide your assets into these categories:

1. Inherited wealth. Parents or relatives left you money or property in their will.
2. Discovered wealth. Something found or taken out of the earth.
3. Trade wealth. Fair profit from buying or selling material goods.
4. Unfair wealth. Mistreating employees: exploiting, underpaying, demanding long hours, and treating dedicated workers as indentured servants.
5. Interest wealth. Fair and just earnings on invested capital.
6. Genius wealth. Rewards received from new ideas and inventions.
7. Accidental wealth. Unexpected wealth from generous donors or fortunate circumstances.
8. Stolen wealth. Stealing or scamming others.
9. Trust funds. Wealth is entrusted in your hands.
10. Earned wealth. Riches from your labors.

After assessing how one's wealth was obtained, administer each portion using the laws of justice, equity, fairness, and efficiency. Always err on the side of showing mercy for the suffering and unfortunate. For each of the categories, these considerations should be weighed.

1. Inherited wealth. Honest wealth should be distributed to the future generations minus a fair amount to the present generation. You are under a moral obligation to represent the past generation as the trustee of one generation for another. If you learn the wealth is tainted, derived from fraud or unfairness, disburse it as you deem just, and account for restitution if required.
2. Discovered wealth. The ‘prospector’ deserves all rewards for his findings on the earth. He should share the derived advantages and blessings of his ‘gold’ for future generations to enjoy.
3. Trade wealth. In an honest trade, the same profit he would grant to a fellow trader in a similar transaction should be gladly accorded. On a larger scale, such as business dealings in a corporation, one should have a voice in the profit distribution. In the world of trade and barter, each is entitled to a fair and legitimate profit. A tradesman deserves wages for his services; the merchant is entitled to his hire. In the business world that creates many different sorts of profit, these gains must be distributed by the highest principles of justice, honesty, and fairness.
4. Unfair wealth. No God-knowing mortal should stoop to engage in the oppressions of wealth. It is ignoble to gain wealth and power through the enslavement or unjust exploitation of one’s brothers here on earth. No civilization can exist for long when built on the distasteful practice of underpaying or demanding excessive hours of a wage earner. Such riches are a spiritual stigma and should be redeemed by giving the robbed wages to the workers or their children and their children’s children.
5. Interest wealth. If your wealth is honest, it is entitled to interest. Never engage in originating a loan with an unreasonably high interest rate. That is usury, manipulating money-power to gain an unfair advantage over those struggling or in financial distress.
6. Genius wealth. The inventive man deserves rewards for his patent. But also remember your fellow researchers, the shoulders on whom your ideas sprung, give credit to your ancestors and progeny, plus your race, nation, and the provider of the research lab. Do not lay full claim to an unfair portion of your gains, rather share with those who helped you.
7. Accidental wealth. Think of yourself as the administrator of capital placed by chance in your hands. While you deserve a major voice in wise and effective distribution, do not view these funds as your personal and private possession. Disperse the riches for the benefit of one’s social or economic group.
8. Stolen wealth. If your wealth is knowingly tainted, make haste to restore these underhanded gains to their rightful owners. Make full amends to cleanse your treasure so it can be enjoyed with a clear conscience.
9. Trust funds. It is an honor and sacred responsibility to be chosen as an executor of a trust, to oversee the wealth of one person for the benefit of others. Perform your duties diligently, and gratefully accept the legal percentage for your services. The cost of management and administration certainly constitutes legitimate fees.
10. Earned wealth. This is truly your own, procured from your own mental and physical toil. You have every right to spend this money as you see fit but keep a watchful eye that your expenditures will cause no harm to your fellows.

This affluent Roman, confident in the wisdom and goodness found in Jesus, promised that he would straightway begin to administer all his wealth in accordance with Jesus’ counsel.