A Shepherd's Role

We all must plant, water, cultivate, prune, and harvest.

I think the rich have a humanitarian role in addressing the greater mechanisms that exacerbate wage stagnation, inflation, poor education, and indifference between economic groups.

The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. 

- Luke 12: 47-48

It is my understanding that this message can speak to a role that is not solely based on charity from the wealthy to the poor, but also of empowerment and teaching of proper equity that can benefit the poor.

The 'greater mechanism' is a world that reflects often what is sown... and can sometimes seem unfair.

'Wage stagnation' is the fact of wages not rising alongside productivity, causing labor to be extracted at a heavier weight benefiting the laborer less in relation to the cost of living (this includes 'inflation').

'Poor education' is the absence of teaching these dynamics, what the Rich Dad Poor Dad series highlights and partially answers.

This absence is felt by the poor and not all government policies properly address these issues.

I think this may be due to the fact that government policy also reflects a poor education.

These (and other) realities produce an 'indifference' between 'economic groups'.

The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with Him. 

- Proverbs 22: 7

Unfairness (dishonest scales) confuses what can be clearly taught.

What often seems confusing or complicated can be simplified and clarified.

There is an opinion that poverty may have a root in ignorance... and that ignorance is a by-product of simple things made complicated.

The 'simple' (and clarifying) is the Word of God quoted, and is easy to understand.

The 'complicated' is the terminology used in economics, and notice how they often confuse things.

Considering these opinions of the author, consider then this question:

Has anything changed since the beginning of man's time on earth?

Even with an economic system that theorizes a benefit to the working class and elimination of the capital class (loosely defined as Marxism), has class indifference been equalized or eliminated in places Marxism was utilized as a solution?

What has always been the constant?

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. 

- Proverbs 22: 7

This fact found in Proverbs is not the reason why this reality exists, but simply the clear mention of that reality... and the 'rich' in a Marxist society are those occupying high positions of power and making decisions over the rest.

Since all things come at a cost, and mankind is interdependent of one another, equitable consideration for the poor allows for an effort to treat those subject to market mechanisms (the poor) as fellow brothers / human beings / dignified partners in this life's experience... and not mere commodities.

Treating others as one would like to be treated speaks to this kind approach (in all things) regardless someone's economic standing or your opinion of them.

'Empowerment' can include the teaching that one who does not work does not eat.

This is a sobering teaching also based on its self-evident fact and not so much invoked in order to establish an order.

Another fact of life is that an individual reaps what they sow.

It is the responsibility of an individual to sow one's gifts and talents in doing one's part (for all involved, from the poorest to the wealthiest).