Thoughts on wealth and the wealthy.
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
January 25, 2010 2:05pm CST
What are your feelings about money, or perhaps more importantly, about those who are wealthy? Basicly, money is simply a tool that enables us to meet our individual needs and should be seen as neither good nor bad. Yet many people react emotionally to issues concerning finances, unconsciously condemning money itself, the manner in which money is spent, and people who live lives of financial abundance. Those who are rich in gifts such as high intelligence are recognized for their positive traits while those who have acquired material riches or aim to become wealthy are often judged harshly. However, wealth is not something upon which we can legitimately judge another. It tells us nothing about how a person lives, what they believe in, or what their values are. Like any blessing, wealth is merely an instrument and can be used both constructively and destructively.
Often from an early age, we tend to associating money with greed, selfishness, and unethical behavior and this idea becomes entrenched in our hearts as envy.If we are going to be rational and have a fairer perspective of wealth, we need to recognize that the fact that a person's wealth tells us little about the individual. If we find jealousy prompting us to draw unflattering conclusions about people whose lives seem more financially secure than our own, we should remind ourselves that there are many elements of their circumstances we cannot see. Their wealth may be the result of long hours of taxing labor, they may donate a large percentage of their resources to charitable causes, or it may be an incidental aspect of a life spent doing what they love. We can heal our hurtful associations with money by turning a blind eye toward both wealth and poverty and focus instead on the individual before us.
If we take a moment to consider our own feelings regarding money and wealth, we may discover that we often associate financial prosperity with happiness, power, security etc. yet money itself, is none of these things. we can begin developing a healthier view of wealth by simply accepting the fact that while some possess great wealth and others do not, we all have the potential to create lives of beauty, substance, wisdom, and happiness if we use the resources that we have been given.
2 people like this
8 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Jan 10
So what is the question? Do you want our opinion or are you giving just what you feel and giving us a lecture? For me, it depends on how the person got the wealth. If he or she worked hard, invested wisely, or if he or she inherited it and increased it by working hard or investing wisely, so much the better. Sometimes wealth is the matter of luck. For instance I am not wealthy because we had circumstance in our lives and others that needed help, also neither of us went to University. I also had a father who figured that I was well provided for but found out later that I was not. I do have a husband who is making sure of that, but for me I feel I could have used the money that dad thought he would give to me and my brother, and that would mean that we would be better off ahead.
To me, money would have helped a lot, and I am sure there are others perhaps who have medical problems, etc. where money is necessary. I do not think of money as a tool because that would make one complacent and not try to increase one's finances.
I also do not think that the wealthy should support the lazy and indolent. I do believe that the attitude of giving should be encouraged by showing how wonderful it is and not by force in all, so that it is a natural thing for a wealthy man or woman to donate to worthy causes, as it would be a natural thing for someone not so financially blessed to help out his or her neighbor by looking after the children or giving what would be considered the widows mite.
And if one does not have good health or has a chronic disease or condition, the money does make it easier for that person to get medical help. And the wealthy man or woman can give more to others without hurting.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
27 Jan 10
Hi suspenseful, Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I do agree with some of what you say here. I don't think it's important if a person is rich in material things or not but no one should be without the basic necessities of life. Both the rich and poor have their problems. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Jan 10
I go by the premise that we have to be content in whatever situation God has put it, and I also believe Paul when he said that if one is in a poor situation (in those days it was slavery) that one should try to better himself and get out of that way.
Now it is poverty and being on welfare. Those who are in that condition should try to work and get them out of that situation.
But the rich and the poor who are without God do have their problems. Those who have money and those who are without who know God are content and will not bemoan their situation by saying "I have too much money and life is boring," or "I cannot do anything as I am poor."
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
26 Jan 10
I have always thought that those who have wealth must do much more to contain it. Those who don't have wealth should not feel they are beneath those who have it. Rich used to be a statement, now its a life style. The only thing that money can do for you is to allow to enjoy the finer things in life. It can't buy you into heaven or even fix relationships, since money has a value it also has a cost. Most people just don't want to worry about money so they try to get enough to live free but by then they are slaves to the process of obtaning it.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
26 Jan 10
Too many ideas (and words) here for an easy response, but I will give it try!
In this 21st century,Teachers, Writers, Musicians,Doctors, Scientists, and those upon whom humanity depends, are grudgingly paid, while Pro Sports Figures, Bank Presidents, (whose banks have failed) Rock Stars,TV Show Hosts, Movie Actors, and others who are idolized by the indolent, but are of little use to society, are filthy rich. How fair is this?
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
27 Jan 10
Hi barehugs, Thanks for commenting and I know where you're coming from however, I don't believe a lot of money brings happiness, especially if it comes easy. I agree that Teachers, Doctors, etc. should be paid a lot more than they are at the moment, but we can't comdemn the rich simply for being rich either. Blessings.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
25 Jan 10
When I was young I was sent away to boarding school, there were many rich people's children at school with us and they were not happier than the rest of us, we all knew we were not wanted at home and had been placed together to get us out of the way. As I grew up I had occasion to come in contact with many people of famous families who were also wealthy, these were really no different than other families I live around. Some were happy, those that had a purpose in life and used their money for that purpose. And some were very unhappy. I would say that the main difference was the degree to which they could indulge their happiness or unhappiness was greater than the rest of us. We had to wait for shoes, coats and meat in our meals, they waited for cars, boats etc. It was just a matter of degree.
@vandana7 (100638)
• India
26 Jan 10
Hi Pose123, I have held such opinions for a long time! Ayn Rand. :) Well, yes, they employ, they feed population, they struggle to make more wealth, so that they can open more factories, and employ some more, and each one that they employ has a family that is fed, and educated, and again they come up in life. All this because these wealthy folks worked for 18 hours a day instead of working 8 hours like me. Why should I hold any grudges against them? Why should I be jealosu of them? I think they are doing better job when compared to those people in our temples that ask for donations to feed the poor! They are not working half as hard!
@artistry (4151)
• United States
26 Jan 10
...Hi Pose123, Well here goes, I am listening to a great record by Bob Dylan, and I am feeling pretty good. My thoughts about someone and all the money they have or don't have is basically, so what? They earned it, inherited it or stole it legally or illegally perhaps, and so they have many dollars. What will they do with it, buy a large home with opulant fixtures perhaps, have multiple televisions, many bedrooms, and mutiple cars. Lovely fur coats for the woman, many expensive suits for the gentleman and maybe much gold jewelry if they like it. Whatever their money can buy, that they want, they will. For the sake of economics they may share a lot of their money with some charities of their choice. And then, after all of that, if get sick and their money can't buy them a heart or a liver, then they get ready for the bone garden, as we all do. If their money could buy them eternal life here, I might be jealous, there is no reason to be jealous. Their money is theirs to do with what they will. As long as I can pay my bills, keep my home heated in winter or cool in the summer, and have food to eat, I am quite fine. You can only wear one pair of shoes at a time. Once you are full, more food will only make you sick. Too many rings on your fingers make you look as though you need external approval for some emptiness inside. Happiness is a mental state, not bought and paid for with many dollars or aquired with the accumulation of many tangible things. Money can't buy class as my sister says or permanent happiness. Putting it in your grave with you, sure won't get you to the promised land. "o) So be it. Enjoy.
@anthony89 (154)
• United States
25 Jan 10
My feelings about money aren't so good. Too many problems are caused by having too much money, or too little money. For example, it's hard to pay bills or college tuition when you have little money. It's hard when you are rich and buy material things because then you have a larger amount of bills. Money causes so much turmoil. It causes greed, war, and so fourth. I think if people think more about the resources we have been given rather than material things, life will turn out to be a lot better. Less money will be spent on useless items. People will realize that we don't need these things and that there are many rich people throwing money away when they could be helping the homeless children out there and the hungry.
1 person likes this
@ErickJ (186)
• United States
25 Jan 10
I feel that money is a powerful object in the world.. Its like the more cash a person has can go anywhere in the world. It would be nice to be wealthy, but welthy people don't understand that anything can happen to thwir money, the wealthy can go broke at anytime and end up homeless. However, there are good people that are wealthy. People in general has to becareful and know how to use that power the right way...
It is tru that people cannot judge other people if they are wealthy or not.. A wealthy person could has gotten wealthy by his or her education, family inheritance, built his or her own business or went to Las Vegas a hit the jackpot. It can go both ways starting from the bottom. It is true that we don't know a person's past
Now people that react emotionaly are people who struggle because of house morgages,utility bills, their kids,medical bills food, the rent, gas, car insurance etc. Thats a lot for a person to deal with. Its stressful not having that kind of money. but it would be nice tho
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