Jesus in Rome: 5. Tips for Rico

The Urantia Book

document 132

5. Tips for Rico

Certain rich man, and stoic Roman citizen, was keenly interested in the teachings of Jesus, which had been presented by Angamon him. After many intimate conversations this wealthy citizen asked Jesus what he would do with wealth if possessed, and Jesus replied:  " He would devote material wealth to theimprovement of material life and dedicate knowledge, wisdom and spiritual service to the enrichment of intellectual life, the ennoblement of the social life and the advancement of spiritual life. Would administer material wealth as a wise and effective guardian of the resources of one generation for the benefit and ennoblement of the next generation and succeeding generations. "

But the rich man was not fully satisfied with Jesus' answer. He dared to ask again: "But what do you need a man in my position with your wealth you think? Should I stay with her, or should I distribute "When Jesus realized that this man sincerely desired to know more deeply the truth about his loyalty to God and his duty to his fellow men, he further said:  " My good friend, I understand you are looking honestly honestly wisdom and love truth; So I think state my views on solving your problems relating to the responsibilities of wealth. I do it because you have  asked for  my advice, and offer it to you, I'm not thinking about the wealth of any other rich man;My advice is for you, for your personal guidance. If you honestly want to consider your wealth as a trust, if you really want to become a prudent and effective guardian of your accumulated wealth, then I would advise you to do the following analysis of the sources of your riches: Ask yourself, and try to find the honest answer, where did this wealth? And as an aid in analyzing the sources of your great fortune, I would suggest you to remember the following ten different methods of amassing material wealth: Where did this wealth? And as an aid in analyzing the sources of your great fortune, I would suggest you to remember the following ten different methods of amassing material wealth: Where did this wealth? And as an aid in analyzing the sources of your great fortune, I would suggest you to remember the following ten different methods of amassing material wealth:

"1. Inherited wealth which comes from parents and other ancestors.

"2. Discovered wealth which comes from the uncultivated resources of mother earth.

"3. -obtenida commercial wealth as a fair profit in the exchange and true-to material goods.

"4. unjust wealth which comes from the unfair exploitation or the enslavement of our fellow men.

"5. Wealth of interest which comes from the possibility of fair and equitable profit of invested capital.

'6. Genius wealth which comes from the rewards of the creative and inventive endowments of the human mind.

"7. Accidental wealth which is derived from the generosity of a fellow man, or the circumstances of life.

'8. Stolen wealth which was obtained by wickedness, dishonesty, theft or fraud.

'9. trust funds-wealth put in your hands for such a specific use, now or in the future.

"10. gained wealth-wealth that comes directly from your personal work, fair and equitable reward of your daily efforts of mind and body.

"So, my friend, if you want to be a faithful and righteous guardian of your large fortune, before God and the service of men, you must divide about your wealth into these ten large groups, and then proceed with the administration of each portion as the wise and honest interpretation of the laws of justice, equity, fairness and true efficiency; but the God of heaven will not condemn you if sometimes you miss, in doubtful situations, in favor of merciful and unselfish consideration of the grief of the victims who suffer the unfortunate circumstances of mortal life. When you have an honest doubt about the equity and justice in a material situation, let your decisions favor those in need. Favors those who suffer the misfortune of undeserved hardships. "

After discussing these matters for several hours, and responding to the request of the rich who wanted a broader and more detailed instruction, Jesus expanded his advice, saying in substance:  "To bring these further suggestions concerning your attitude toward wealth, I warn you should consider my advice and observations exclusively for you and for your personal guidance. I only speak for myself and for you as a friend who wants to know. I beg you do not become a dictator as to how other rich should treat their wealth. I would advise as:

"1. As guardian of inherited wealth you should consider its origins. You have a moral obligation to represent the previous generation in the honest legitimate transmission to future generations after subtracting a fair amount for the benefit of the present generation wealth. But you are not obligated to perpetuate dishonesty and injustice that may have occurred in the undue accumulation of wealth by your ancestors. You can disburse any portion of your inherited wealth resulting from fraud or come iniquity according to your convictions of justice, generosity, and restitution. You can use the rest of your rightful inheritance equally safe and transmit trust from one generation to another.

"2. Everyone who enjoys wealth discovered must remember that a person only lives on earth a short season and should, therefore, properly arranged to these findings can be shared in the most useful way with the greatest number of his fellows. While the discoverer should not be denied all reward for their job search and discovery, neither should he selfishly claim all the advantages and benefits that may be obtained treasured resource discovery by nature.

"3. Until men choose to drive business world through trade and barter, they are entitled to a fair and legitimate profit. Every merchant deserves payment for his services; the merchant is entitled to his salary. Equity in trade and the honest treatment accorded one's fellows in the organized business of the world create many different types of wealth for profit, and each of these sources of wealth must be judged by the standard of the principles highest in the justice, honesty and fairness.The honest trader should not hesitate to get the same profit with equity would give his colleague in a similar transaction. While this sort of wealth is not identical with individually earned income when business is conducted on a large scale, at the same time,

"4. No mortal who knows God and try to do the divine will can stoop so low as to participate in the oppression by the power of wealth. No man of noble heart can devote to accumulate the power of wealth by the enslavement or unfair exploitation of his brothers in the flesh. Riches are a moral curse and a spiritual stigma when they come from the sweat of oppressed mortal man. All wealth thus obtained should be restored to him who was stolen in this way or their children or their children's children. You can not be built an enduring civilization on the practice of robbing the worker his wages.

"5. Honest wealth is entitled to interest. Until men borrow and receive loans, a fair interest may be collected provided the capital lent comes from a legitimate wealth.Purify first your capital and can then claim the interest. Do not let your greed make you fall into the practice of usury. Do not let your selfishness take you to use the power of money to gain unfair advantage over your peers in trouble. Do not be tempted to receive usury from your brother in financial distress.

'6. If you get to the richness of your genius, if your riches are derived from the rewards for your skills inventive, do not try an unfair portion of such rewards. The genius owes something to both his ancestors and his progeny; also due to their race, their nation and the circumstances of their discoveries and inventions; should also remember that prepared and carried out his inventions in his capacity as a man among men. At the same time, it would be equally unjust to deprive the genius of any opportunity to increase their wealth. It will be forever impossible for men to establish laws and rules that can be applied equally to all problems related to equitable distribution of wealth. You must first recognize man as your brother, and if you honestly want to do for him what you want him to do for you,

"7. Except for the just and legitimate fees for the task of administration, no man should lay claim to wealth which time and chance may have deposited in their hands.Accidental riches should be regarded somewhat as a trust to be administered for the benefit of own economic or social group. For the possessors of such wealth should be accorded the major voice in determining prudent and effective distribution of these resources unearned. Civilized man will not always consider everything that controls as his personal and private possession.

'8. If a certain portion of your fortune has been knowingly obtained by fraud; If any part of your wealth has been accumulated by dishonest practices or unfair methods;If your funds come from unjust dealings with your fellows, make haste to restore these ill-gotten gains to the rightful owners. Make full compensation and thus cleanse your fortune of all ill-gotten wealth.

'9. The administration of the wealth of a person for the benefit of others is a solemn and sacred responsibility. Do not compromise or put in jeopardy the trust. Take thee a trust only allowing every honest man.

"10. That part of your fortune that corresponds to what you earned with your own mental and physical efforts if you do your work on justice and equity is truly yours.No man can deny the right to retain and use that portion of your wealth as long as the exercise of this right does not harm in any way to your fellow man. "

When Jesus had finished his speech, this wealthy Roman arose from his chair and, to say goodnight, he made this promise: "My good friend, I perceive you are a man of great wisdom and goodness, and tomorrow begin to manage my goods according to your advice. "