Wealth More Precious Than Jewels: A Parable

April 15, 2002

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

A few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.”

Sometimes it’s not the wealth you have but what’s inside you that others need.

Although noble in intent, this parable has flaws. Suppose the traveler was addicted to cocaine, and would pawn the gem for money for a number of “fixes?” Suppose the traveler was “on the lam” from an indictment on criminal charges and the gem could provide funds for travel to a country where there was no extradition treaty with the U.S.? But such suppositions are nitpicking. I should value the parable for its story of unhesitating, unquestioning generosity.

The traveler rejoiced in his unearned good fortune. It is not for me to criticize the benefits that a little or a lot of money can provide. To denigrate or condemn affluence, just because it is affluence, is for persons more radical than I am. One of the abuses of wealth occurs when it is the only dimension of one’s appraisal of self.

In the parable the traveler discovered that more valuable than the precious stone was an understanding of the generosity of the wise woman. The actions of many people in all times and places are motivated by greed, envy, or self-justification. Because of the prevalence of such traits, we are surprised, sometimes, to discover generosity without expectations of “paybacks” in one way or another. But there are such wise persons, women and men. We can be glad of that.

Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates the same truth more vividly in its non-judgmental love of parent for child. Some commentators have suggested that the proper title for this parable is “The Forgiving Father” not “The Prodigal Son.”

Was the older son justified in complaining? Many persons would say “yes.” The father recognized the older son’s complaints, but replied:

“Son, you are always with me and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad for this your brother was dead, and is alive, he was lost and is found.”

Notice that the father did not refer to the prodigal as “my younger son,” but rather, “your brother.” A subtle point, perhaps, but telling. I am not naïve and I am aware there are families where brother cannot tolerate brother. The primal myth of Cain and Abel illuminates the malicious dysfunction that can happen among siblings. But generosity and joy prevail when a prodigal conies to himself and comes home. Family celebrations of such redemptions are a unique experience of happiness in human affairs.