10/13/2025 .

Introduction

The phrase “Riches for me, but not for thee” captures an intrinsic and enduring form of social and economic hypocrisy that persists in every level of society. It describes the practice of demanding labor, sacrifice, and loyalty from others while hoarding wealth, privilege, and opportunity for oneself. This dynamic can be found at every level of society—from friendships poisoned by financial exploitation, to corporations that underpay employees, to governments that protect the wealthy while burdening the working class. It is evident that such forms of economic hypocrisy not only exploits individuals but also destabilizes entire societies.

The Nature of Economic Hypocrisy

Economic hypocrisy manifests in multiple ways: employers who underpay workers while enriching themselves, political leaders who burden the poor with taxes while shielding elites, and individuals who exploit friendships for financial gain without reciprocity. At its root, this pattern is motivated by selfishness and greed.

Selfishness turns relationships into mere vehicles to “get gain.”[1] A friend who continually takes without giving back values personal gain above mutual care. Greed magnifies this tendency, transforming opportunities for mutual improvement and increase into schemes for extraction. What should be communities of shared trust become arenas of exploitation.

Greed not only motivates the exploitation of others but also blinds the exploiter to the human cost of their actions. The employer who cuts wages while awarding himself a bonus may justify it as “business efficiency,” but the deeper reality is an unwillingness to share prosperity. Political leaders who manipulate tax codes to protect their wealth rationalize it as “growth” or “investment,” but underneath is the same drive for personal enrichment at the expense of those with less power.

Friends who exploit friends for favors or professional services rendered, without paying them fair market value for their services, may seek to rationalize or justify their actions in various ways, but the truth of the matter doesn’t change. It may be they really can’t afford full remuneration, and it was always understood that this was strictly a charitable exchange; but where they really can afford to pay up, they definitely should.

Scripture repeatedly warns against this kind of selfishness. “The love of money is the root of all evil”[2] is not merely a condemnation for seeking wealth but of the greed that elevates wealth above justice, compassion, and community. The Book of Mormon echoes this theme: “Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches”.[3] Such greed corrodes and corrupts character as much as it impoverishes others.

Ultimately, selfishness, greed, and dishonesty are the primary reasons why economic hypocrisy persists. Rules can be changed, institutions can be restructured and redefined, but when leaders and individuals prioritize self-interest over fairness, they create cultures of exploitation that perpetuate and exacerbate instances of dishonesty. It’s easy to rationalize usury and dishonesty. One can pose arguments about who deserves what, written or verbal agreements, core values, and every variation imaginable, whereby selfishness and greed can be rationalized; however, at the end of the day, it is still selfishness, greed, and dishonesty.

Scriptural Arguments

In James (the contemporary language edition), we read: “All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up, but all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter-than-usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.”[4]

James is issuing a prophetic warning to the wealthy who exploit others. He says that the cries of the cheated workers rise up to God Himself, who hears them as a roar demanding justice. The rich have lived in indulgence, taking from the earth and others for selfish pleasure, but in the end, all their excess leads only to death—what James sarcastically calls a “fatter-than-usual corpse.” Worse still, their greed has effectively condemned and destroyed innocent people, who bore the abuse silently.

In short, James declares that unchecked greed and exploitation are not only unjust but self-destructive: they corrupt society, crush the vulnerable, and ultimately bring down God’s judgment on the oppressors.

The Book of Mormon echoes this warning, condemning societies that divide into classes of wealthy oppressors and impoverished laborers.

Mosiah 4:26 – Recap: True discipleship requires not just honesty, but generosity. Retaining forgiveness from God is tied to sharing wealth with the poor and aiding those in need. To hoard resources instead of relieving suffering is a spiritual failure.

Alma 5:55 – Recap: Pride leads people to believe they are superior and more deserving, which often leads to persecuting those who are meek and humble. When the wealthy elevate themselves and scorn those who walk in righteousness, they reveal their corruption and lack of repentance.

Helaman 13:21–22 – Recap: Wealth can become an idol. When people set their hearts on riches, they forget the God who enabled and provided those blessings. This results in pride, envy, conflict, and violence. In other words, it leads to social decay, which flows directly from selfishness and greed.

Historical Patterns

Feudalism reserved wealth and privilege for the few while peasants labored in near slavery. The Industrial Revolution produced immense fortunes for factory owners while workers endured unsafe conditions and long, grueling hours of hard labor. Today, corporate executives often take massive bonuses even when their companies fail, while employees are laid off. The pattern repeats across time: the wealthy aggrandize, enrich, and protect themselves, while those who do most of the heavy lifting to create it are far from justly compensated.

The Normalization of Deviance in Economics

Economic exploitation often becomes normalized over time. The normalization of deviance in economics occurs when practices that are initially recognized as unjust or even illegal—such as wage theft, predatory lending, tax evasion, or exploitative labor conditions—are tolerated because they do not immediately bring the system to a collapse. As these practices persist without severe consequences, they become standard business practices rather than shocking deviations.

For example, when corporations consistently underpay workers while awarding executives vast bonuses, society often shrugs rather than protests.  When governments impose unjust taxes that undermine property ownership rights, systematize theft as legalized plunder, and impoverish the working class, society eventually adapts and normalizes such practices, designating the unjust taxation of the people as the fair price everyone must pay for government services.  Over time, such behaviors create a culture in which exploitation is not only tolerated but also celebrated. This normalization leads to widespread demoralization as workers, citizens, and even whole nations come to believe that fairness is unattainable. The resulting cynicism undermines faith in both markets and governments, creating fertile ground for unrest, insurrection, and collapse.

Consequences of Economic Hypocrisy

When societies tolerate “Riches for me, but not for thee,” distrust grows, class resentment builds, and revolutions become inevitable. The French Revolution, the rise of labor unions, and modern populist backlashes all testify to the unsustainability of economic hypocrisy. On the personal level, friendships and communities collapse when one party consistently exploits another. Exploitation erodes trust, destroys relationships, and corrupts the character of both oppressor and oppressed.

Conclusion

“Riches for me, but not for thee” is more than a catchy phrase; it is a piercing critique of economic hypocrisy. By hoarding wealth while demanding sacrifice from others, elites create systems that corrode justice, trust, and human dignity. Exploitation cannot endure indefinitely. Integrity, fairness, and shared accountability are not optional—they are the foundation of a just and lasting society.

References

[3] Helaman 13:22

[4] James 5:4–6 from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Eugene H. Peterson)

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