WHEN ONE HAS TOO MUCH
In a world of gross inequality of resources Rev. Cameron Trimble offers us thoughtful insights about what is too much.
"Yesterday headlines announced that Telsa shareholders approved a pay package for Elon Musk that surpasses $1 trillion in potential value.¹ It’s a staggering number: so large it’s hard to even imagine. One individual, in one lifetime, with access to more financial wealth than most nations. For some, it’s seen as a triumph of innovation and ambition. For others, it raises difficult questions about fairness, balance, and the kind of world we’re building.
"Meanwhile, many people around the world, and in our own communities, are struggling. Millions live without reliable access to healthcare, food, or housing. Teachers, caregivers, and essential workers often find themselves overworked and underpaid. Parents make trade-offs between rent and medication. In this context, it’s hard not to wonder: How much is too much?
"Spiritual traditions across time and culture have long wrestled with questions like these. In Judaism and Christianity, we’re reminded that justice involves caring for the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. In Islam, the practice of zakat—giving a portion of one’s wealth—is part of the fabric of community. In Buddhism, the path of non-attachment urges us to release what we hold too tightly. The message is consistent: wealth, in and of itself, is not the problem, but what we do with it matters deeply.
"I don’t know the full story behind these compensation packages. But I do know that whenever I see extreme concentration of wealth, especially alongside widespread need, it stirs something in me. It’s not just a political reaction, but a moral and spiritual question: What kind of world are we creating? And what kind of world do we want to pass on?
"Maybe the question isn’t about vilifying any one person. Maybe it’s about reexamining the systems we’ve built, and imagining something more whole. Something more just. Something where everyone can thrive."
Rev. Cameron Trimble write regular essays entitled "Piloting Faith."
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