In conclusion - week five of coming to grips with the hedge fund

Last week the writing changed. I found myself referring to other articles and studies on the topics of wealth, and even starting with a quote from a musical. At first I thought it was weird, but I believe it was a signal that my thoughts actually are getting organized and I can put them in a larger framework. Therefore, this week I can go all scriptural.

In the First Presidency response, they justified their building of a "prudent" reserve by referring to the Parable of the Talents.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-statement-church-finances

That is in Matthew 25, and we will get back to that. My first thought was of a different parable, found in Luke 12, verses 16-21. Without intending to offend anyone, it is referred to as the Parable of the Rich Fool:

16 ... The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

It is tempting to throw in a reference to Jacob 2:18-19, about seeking riches for the intent to do good, but I do not believe that riches were sought; they just happened, but then it changed things. I understand preparing for trying times to come, but there are trying times now, and $100 billion is a ridiculous amount of money. There is suffering now; do we alleviate that suffering or do we believe that when Christ returns he will be most interested in being handed a large check?

In the Parable of the Talents, the servant that is reprimanded for burying his talent said he did it because his master was a hard master who reaped where he did not sow. That character represents the Lord, but we should not assume that is an accurate depiction of his personality. Yes, in the framework of the parable, multiplying your talent means investing it with usurious lenders, but securing billions of dollars in a hedge fund that benefits corporations and capitalists seems much more akin to burying it than almost anything else we could do.

Let's remember that Matthew 25 is all parables about being ready for the Lord's return. In addition to the Parable of the Talents, we have the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which reminds us that you can be a virgin and an invited guest but still not really know Him, and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which tells us how to know Him.

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

They didn't know whom they had been serving, and those who ignored the needs didn't either, so there is further explanation:

 40 ...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me...

45 ... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And let's look at that verse in Jacob:

19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

That is what we should be doing. That is what it is tearing me up inside that we are not doing.

The church leadership has done so many things to try and make people more Christ-centered. It feels like they all fail, especially when I see how many members are Trump supporters.

Doing Christ's work could change that. With $100 billion (or save two years worth of expenses, and just start with $88 billion) there is so much that could be done to feed the hungry, provide pure water, shelter homeless and improve homes that are in use but not in good shape. There is so much that can be done to heal sick and injured, and improve access for those whose limitations can't be changed, and provide comfort for those whom medicine cannot heal. There could be so much healing effected by providing therapy and support. There is so much that can be done to increase literacy, and clean up pollution, and free prisoners.

If we aren't seeing those needs, we just aren't looking.

Yes, I am still paying tithing even though I am frustrated with that now, and many faithful people probably still will. A flood of good pouring across the planet could inspire many more. It could lead to much more joyful giving. It could lead to more loving service.

That's what I long for. I try and do my little drops of service here and there, but the world needs a flood. Remove the dam!

That is what I want to see.

Tomorrow I will write my letter, and prepare it for sending.

It only took five weeks.

Fear of losing what we shouldn't even have

Ten pounds is a lot o' money. Makes a man feel prudent-like, 
and then goodbye to 'appiness.

In My Fair Lady, Eliza's father Alfred asks Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering for five pounds "for one good spree". The professor offers him ten, but ten is too much for a spree. "The missus wouldn't have the 'eart to spend ten."

It's played for comedy, but it's also true; there is a level where money stops helping and being a comfort, and starts becoming a burden.

You can look at this from different directions. From the bottom up, studies have shown that the happiness that comes from earning more money tops out somewhere between $60-75,000 annually. Of course cost of living varies from place to place, but that range is essentially where your needs are met, and you can get some wants, but even more so your problems don't grind you down and feel insurmountable. There's a lot of fear and stress that goes with being low-income.


http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019628,00.html
https://money.com/ideal-income-study/ 

Then, after hitting an income of $95,000 per year, happiness actually starts to decline. Maybe this is where you start feeling more stress about what appearances you need to put on, or that your taxes are going to undeserving people and that no one appreciates how much you do.

From the other direction, wealth creates insecurity. I have seen multiple articles about millionaires in Silicon Valley who feel pressure to keep up with people who have more millions than they do. In Abigail Disney's New Yorker profile, she cited a study the Chronicle of Philanthropy did on inherited wealth. It showed that no matter how much each recipient had received, to feel secure they thought they would need about twice as much.

(So if you had inherited $25 million, you would think having $50 million would be enough, but if you had inherited $50 million, you would believe you needed $100 million.)

I have less sympathy than I could for the nervous rich, but it does appear that it changes the brain, and not in a way that increases happiness or makes the world better. Even those who are considered philanthropists - which should be a good thing - don't end up truly improving and solving their causes (read Anand Giridharadas), not to mention there often being destructive business practices on the way to wealth.

So the Waltons might take federal tax credits, and also pay their employees low enough wages that they require government assistance while destroying existing local businesses, and the Sacklers might allow prescription mills to create a whole new and improved drug scourge, and Jeff Bezos might buy Whole Foods and cut medical benefits, and people don't seem to remember now some of the things that Bill Gates did to make Windows rule.

All of that could be expanded upon (and probably will be in the main blog) but there is limited application. The church has not done anything unethical to acquire its wealth. Tithing is a principle that goes back at least to Abraham, and those who tithe are blessed.

However, at some point it clearly got to be too much. That brings in a hesitancy, and a distrust. In fact, it brings in conservatism. If that word applies in multiple ways, that is not strictly coincidental.

And I am mortified that when we have the ability to do so much good, we are mainly known for our bigotry.

That is shameful.