Wealth as a Stewardship with the requirement of Compassion

By Norman Franklin

Norman Franklin

Jesus, whose teachings are central to the Christian faith, commanded those who follow Him to love one another. In fact, love is the identifying character trait that signals to others that we are His disciples. Paul, the apostle and writer of nearly two-thirds of the New Testament, said that one can possess all kinds of spiritual gifts, exhibit all manner of pious works, but if you lack love for your brother, your Christian image is smoke and mirrors―a reflection of a conflated Christ. This is the application of Paul’s words.

We must ask ourselves: can we be the “shining city on the hill” claiming divine destiny and divine purpose while selectively, situationally practicing the biblical principles that under gird that calling? God bless America!

In my mind, I can hear the soulful chords of Ray Charles―the late, great R&B singer― echoing: “America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crowned thy good with brother hood, from sea to shining sea.” And America is blessed. Whether we credit our abundance to God, or to our own ingenuity, abundance remains―a root of our identity and the source of our power.

If we, as a nation whose founding rests upon the wisdom of Scripture, truly believe the Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—reveals the promises and principles of God for His people, then we cannot situationally practice only those truths that advance our own agenda.

As I mentioned, the Bible is filled with the promises of God, and the principles He requires for godly living. There are many, and failure to obey one would not disqualify our Christian identity. The nation has a firm commitment to unwavering support for Israel―an interpretation of Genesis 12:3. Yet we often overlook the admonishments of Matt 25:31-46, in our zeal to purify the population, rid it of undervalued and undesired immigrants, and deny the uncomfortable truths about our history.

The Bible says that God speaks to us in a ‘still, small voice.’ And it’s often the small principles — the quiet acts of love and compassion — that we stumble over, both as individuals and as a nation of Christians. One such principle concerns our wealth: the stewardship of aiding widows, caring for the poor, and showing kindness to immigrants — a stewardship of com passion.”

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, verse 48, Jesus teaches, ‘For everyone to whom much is given, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.’ This implies that those who have more are called to use their blessings to help others — to exercise good stewardship toward the poor and the marginalized.

America is the richest nation in the world. Yet during the DOGE assault on our infrastructure, the American people watched as a billionaire court jester danced with a chainsaw before an approv ing Republican audience. The chainsaw symbolized the merciless cuts he made to government departments and vital agencies. He gut ted USAID — lifelines that impoverished nations relied on for medicine to fight AIDS and HIV, and for food to sustain famine-stricken communities.

The government falls woefully short of practicing the Christian principles it so often proclaims. When government officials fail to exercise compassion, the responsibility shifts to the people. If there is to be a glimmer of light shining on a hill, it must be kindled by individual Americans who hold a broader view of wealth — those who see it as a blessing meant to uplift communities.

In generations past, the Rockefellers, Andrew Carnegie, Randolph Hearst, and other industrial magnates estab lished foundations that funded univer sity endowments, supported the arts, and created scholarships for under privileged students. These institutional channels of benevolence continue to have a life-uplifting impact — the privileged sharing from their abundance for the good of others.

In recent decades, Black Americans, Hispanics, and other people of color have scaled the long walls of exclusion that once barred them from wealth. Their growing presence brings new diversity to circles once closed — the billionaire’s table is no longer a purely white, privileged domain.

As of 2024, the data show that there are nearly 24 million millionaires in America, and 813 billionaires. Black Americans now represent about eight percent of the nation’s millionaires; Hispanics, around seven percent. Four teen African Americans have reached billionaires status — their journeys a testament to stewardship: the gift, the grasp to understand it is a blessing, and the grace of giving.

Through their personal philanthropy, new, state of the art, schools have been built in Africa and in America’s inner cities. Students and their families are relieved of the cost of school supplies. Free health clinics open their doors, tuition debts are forgiven, and scholar ships await each new freshman class. Their empathy with struggle — their memory of marginalization, of inadequate health care, and the crushing weight of student loans — guides their grace of giving.

For some, understanding that wealth is given for community is to accept divine accountability―to practice the principles Jesus embodied, even if our government of professed Christian leaders miss the mark.