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Recently, I came across an article that crunched the numbers and found that if Jeff Bezos—yes, the Amazon billionaire—were to evenly distribute his wealth across the U.S. population, each person would receive roughly $693.20.
Now, that’s not life-changing money for everyone. But in this economy, where a tank of gas feels like a luxury and groceries can eat half a paycheck, that kind of money can feel like a small stimulus check or a surprise holiday bonus. For some, it's a car repair paid. For others, it’s food on the table for a week, a utility bill finally caught up, or a brief breath of financial relief.
It reminded me of the scripture, “The poor you will always have with you,” which appears in Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7, and John 12:8. While that line has been misused or misunderstood by some, it was never meant to dismiss the needs of the poor or to justify doing nothing. Instead, Jesus was speaking to the urgency of His impending crucifixion—highlighting a unique moment in time, not offering a reason to ignore social responsibility.
Philanthropy matters. Generosity matters. And yes, systemic change matters too.
As I’m sure Jeff and many of you already do in your own quiet or public ways—through nonprofit support, direct giving, mutual aid, or advocacy—there is always room to help, to lift, and to redistribute what we can. Maybe Jeff Bezos won’t ever write us all $693 checks, but we each have something we can share, something we can give.
Imagine if kindness were our economy. What would your balance be?
