Wealth
May 11th, 2009
At back-to-school night, I found out something terrible: Walden wants to be rich. (He mentioned it in one of his essays.)
And it is my fault. I have recently made a friend who is very wealthy, and I have been gushing about private jets and yachts. So, it was my responsibility to explain to Walden the pros and cons of being really rich.
The big pro: You can do anything you want, anywhere you want, anytime you want.
The big con: Humans weren’t meant to have their every wish fulfilled.
Humans are designed to work. Work is what brings people together with a common purpose. It gives us a reason to get out of bed in the morning. The goals that we reach through our work demarcate the seasons of our life. (Research indicates that people who work are happier and healthier than people who don’t.)
Being useful in this world is one of our most important blessings.
Beyond the damage to the individual, it seems like a terrible waste to have talented people spending their lives perfecting their golf game and watching baseball.
(Side note: I was in Silicon Valley in the mid-1990′s. Every 25 year-old engineer who arrived thought the same thing: “I’m going to work really hard until I’m 30, and then I’m going to retire and play golf.” Because of the dot-com collapse, they are still working. I suspect that the iPhone would not exist today if the dot-com bubble had lasted two more years.)
In most religions, great wealth is not considered neutral, as we tend to spin it today. Wealth is an indication that you have not given enough to those in need. I am not a christian, but Jesus was quite specific on this: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Thus, praying to Jesus for wealth seems especially silly me; Jesus likes you poor.)
I make a good living, and I suspect that I will end up paying more taxes under Barack Obama than I would have under John McCain. I am delighted to pay those taxes. My father worked his entire life for the federal government. My brother, who has cerebral palsy, lives on Social Security. Much of what I know about the world I learned in public schools and libraries. I cannot possibly repay the government for all they have done for me, but I am happy to do my share.
And when I’m dead, I hope the government takes a big chunk of my estate. And, as Walden writes the check, I hope he thinks, “Well, I guess I still need to make myself useful in this world.” If he thinks, “Well, I guess I need to go mail some teabags,” I’m coming back to spank him.
No amount of money provides the security and peace of mind that having a purpose does. Money can be made worthless in an instant, and possessions can be taken by force. Demand for goods and services never goes away.
I think this post would start a rather vicious argument with many people out there. Perhaps we don’t all get the same satisfaction from a hard day’s work. Perhaps some people think total satisfaction is possible, while the wiser thinks not.
Aaron,
Your writings say much about you, and the more I read your blog, the more impressed I become. Your son has a good example in you.
Regarding the quote “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”, there is a good bit of debate on its meaning, as can be witnessed even by some of the information on Wikipedia (not an authoritative source by any means, but interesting how it sometimes brings together various viewpoints). In fact, Wikipedia mentions one of the stories I’d heard under ‘Alternate Interpretation 1′.
I’m not quite sure I’d say “Jesus likes you poor”
, but at the same time I don’t subscribe to some folks’ modern interpretation of Christianity where they say Jesus wants you to be rich either (that’s a bit much). But even in its literal interpretation, “not rich” ^= “poor”. I am by no means rich… at least not in material possessions. (As my father always says, I am rich beyond words in what matters: family, friends, and my health. 
) But I am also not poor. I have a job, a roof over my head (ok, I rent, but still), food on the table, clothes on my back, and I want for nothing that matters (except maybe a teleportation device so my wife can visit her family more often 
).
The expression, though, no matter which of the many interpretations one chooses to believe, still basically comes down to exactly what you wrote. We are meant to do more than just satisfy our own appetites. We’re wired that way. And purpose and contribution are far more rewarding than material wants. This always makes me think of how so many people, once they retire, seem to pass away in short order. Often it is because they no longer feel they have purpose, that they are no longer contributing to society (and living in a society that, at times, can glorify youth and not show respect for its elders as used to be the case doesn’t always make it easier). Those who retire and do live long, abundant lives, find meaning and purpose in their retirement.
Anyway, that’s a long-winded way of saying, “Wow, nice writeup.” And just to say thanks for having this blog. I’ve enjoyed reading it for some time, whether reading posts like this or following the adventure of your building of the ranch (or your hilarious story on how you were cool for 10 minutes
). Your personal stories also struck a nerve, as we are maybe a year apart in age and shared some similar moments in our upbringing (my first computer was a Commodore PET 1000 w/ 8KB RAM, built-in cassette drive, and a chiclet keyboard 
), though clearly you have excelled in your field.
As a side note, I was saddened to read (though fully understand) that you would be “Leaving the Classroom”, as I have always wanted to both meet you and take the Cocoa course from you. Unfortunately, that’s more my fault for dragging my feet. I still plan to take that course, and with luck will have the opportunity to possibly at least meet you. (For now, I’m determined to get through your Cocoa book.) Until that time, thanks for sharing part of your life here on this site.
It says a lot about a person that they believe in the importance of contributing to society, instead of just wanting to exploit it. Some people believe that life comes down to economics and winning the zero-sum game. Others understand that society works because of the work we all do, and that the more we contribute, the more we end up getting back (as long as enough people share the sentiment). I suppose what underlies that is something akin to trust or faith in others and society itself to multiply the inputs. I’ll never be able to empathize with people whose only goal is to own more and more stuff, and be accountable to no one.
Amen, brother.
I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog, Aaron. I can only pray that I gain even half the humility and wisdom you have, as I grow older. It’s sad to think that so many people go through life envious of others’ financial security, but it’s just as sad that so many of these enviers can’t afford the basic necessities of life. It’s a situation I’ve been in for the past 5 years (since becoming a legal adult) and it’s one that I’m working every single day to get out of. I find it terribly difficult to balance the phrases “live today like it’s your last day on Earth” and “make sure your children grow up having food to eat and a roof over their heads”.
I lost my point somewhere in there. I tried about 3 times to retype it, but it never came out right.
Hello Arron,
We meet down at the VTM conf in Philly, back in October, I asked about coming to work at the ranch. Anyway, are you sure your not a christian, you sure could have fooled me, both in your writings, and in person, you display the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, you get the point. May you be blessed for you kindness, and if the invitation is still open, I am willing to come work down there.