Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis

The Right Thing

Righteous Wealth

No man is without work, whether he is gainfully employed or not. Man's obligation is to live under God in all his actions. Men are not equally gifted nor burdened—much has been given to those from whom much will be required. This sentiment paraphrases the thoughts of William Law (1686-1761). Clement of Alexandria (150-220) declares that the man who is truly rich is rich in virtues and eager to use his fortune in a holy manner. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) addresses the matter of wealth concluding that the only purpose of having money is using it.

In Mildred Binns Young's 1939 piece entitled, "Toward a Functional Poverty," she states her thesis that the path to freeing oneself is by drastically limiting ones material possessions. Only with such limitation, can one realize his true worth. An austere...