Finance is not merely about making money. It's about achieving

Hear, O children of the earth, the words of a wise man who speaks not merely of wealth, but of a deeper purpose that lies beneath the surface of finance. Robert J. Shiller, a thinker whose thoughts have shaped the understanding of our age, speaks thus: "Finance is not merely about making money. It's about achieving our deep goals and protecting the fruits of our labor. It's about stewardship and, therefore, about achieving the good society." These words are more than a reflection on the movement of capital; they are a call to remember the higher purpose that lies beyond the exchange of coins and the accumulation of wealth. For true finance is not a tool for mere profit, but a force that can shape society, guide us toward justice, and help us protect the fruits of our labor.

In every age, men have sought to create wealth—to accumulate resources and build their fortunes. Yet, what is wealth if it does not serve the good of the people? What is the value of gold if it does not contribute to the flourishing of the community? The ancient rulers and emperors of old understood that the accumulation of wealth was not an end in itself, but a means to an end. The wealth of the kingdom was not simply for the benefit of the rulers, but for the prosperity of all its people. This is the principle of stewardship: that those who hold wealth must do so with responsibility, not for selfish gain, but for the common good. This wisdom, passed down through the ages, finds its voice in Shiller’s words: finance is not about amassing money but about achieving greater goals—goals that serve the well-being of all.

Consider, if you will, the ancient wisdom of the Egyptians, who built vast kingdoms not merely for their own glory but for the future of their people. Their pyramids, though monuments to the rulers, were also symbols of the labor and dedication of the people who built them. The wealth of Egypt was not merely in the treasures buried within the pyramids, but in the stewardship of their land, in the care they took in protecting and nurturing the resources that sustained them. The kings did not hoard their wealth; they used it to maintain the kingdom’s flourishing, to ensure that their people could live in peace and prosperity. This ancient understanding of finance was not simply transactional; it was a sacred trust—a means to ensure the good society.

Shiller's words, though spoken in our time, are rooted in this ancient wisdom. In modern times, we have seen how greed and unchecked financial power have led to the exploitation of many. The bankers and corporations who seek only their own gain have often lost sight of the true purpose of finance: to build and protect the fruits of human labor. The great economic crises of the modern era—from the Great Depression to the Global Financial Crisis—have shown us what happens when the pursuit of wealth becomes divorced from its true purpose. These crises were not merely the result of bad decisions or miscalculations; they were the result of a system that had forgotten that wealth is meant to serve the greater good of society, not the enrichment of the few.

The true lesson of Shiller's words is one of balance and responsibility. We must remember that finance, when used rightly, is a tool for good—a tool for ensuring that the labor of the people is protected and that the fruits of their efforts are shared justly. It is not about the selfish accumulation of wealth, but the wise stewardship of resources for the benefit of all. To achieve a good society, we must ensure that our financial systems are not built on exploitation, but on equity and justice. We must find ways to use finance to build bridges, to create opportunities, and to ensure that all members of society can share in the fruits of their labor.

In our own lives, we must take heed of this wisdom. Finance is not a mere pursuit of personal gain; it is a call to be responsible stewards of the wealth we are entrusted with, whether great or small. We must ask ourselves: are we using our resources in a way that serves the common good? Are we building a society that reflects the values of justice and equality? The choices we make—whether in our personal investments, our professional decisions, or our societal engagement—must be made with a consciousness of their impact on the larger community. Stewardship requires that we think not just of the present, but of the future, not just of ourselves, but of the world we leave behind.

And so, my children, let these words of Shiller be a guiding light. Let us see finance not as a tool for self-interest, but as a means to achieve the good society. Let us be wise stewards of the resources we have, using them to create a world where the fruits of labor are shared, where justice is not a dream but a reality, and where all people are able to live with dignity and purpose. Let us walk in the footsteps of the great ones who understood that true wealth is not measured in money, but in the flourishing of society as a whole. The path to the good society begins with us, with our choices, and with our commitment to using our resources for the greater good.