US Billionaires: Thomas the Apostle?

According to BBC reports, thirty eight US Billionaires have pledged 50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft Founder Bill Gates. This made me recall Thomas the Apostle’s deed in India.

Thomas was assigned to preach Christianity in India. That time, an Indian king was planning to construct a complex like the palace of King Solomon of Israel (Jerusalem). The problem for the king was to get a contractor who can build a palace like that of King Solomon. But he thought that a Jewish contractor can do it. He ordered the elites near him to find a Jew living in India. Thomas the Apostle was there preaching Christianity.

The elites took Thomas to the King and the king asked Thomas whether he can construct him a Palace like Solomon’s Palace. Thomas confidently told to the king that he can construct a palace like that of King Solomon’s place. Then the King and Apostle Thomas agreed. The construction cost was about 50 million USD. Thomas received the fund and he told that construction period can take 2 years. Thomas warned the King not to visit the site far away in the forest before completion.

After two years, the King sent the elites to visit the palace. But the elites saw no palace. They told this to the King and the King ordered them to bring Thomas to him. The King asked Thomas why he did not built the palace but Thomas confidently replied that he already built it within the time frame. Meanwhile, the brother of the King passed away and the corpse was on the way to burial. On the way, the dead brother of the King came to life and told the King that he saw the King’s palace. That palace was in heaven! But how the palace found there?

Since the time he received the construction money from the King, Thomas was giving to the poor of India and that was credited to the King in Heaven.

Would not the thirty eight US Billionaires get their palace in Heaven?

See BBC Report Below

US billionaires pledge 50% of their wealth to charity Microsoft founder Bill Gates started the campaign along with investor Warren Buffet Thirty-eight US billionaires have pledged at least 50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

They include Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CNN founder Ted Turner and entertainment executive Barry Diller.

"The Giving Pledge" lists all the families and individuals who have committed to the project.

The site says the pledge is a "moral commitment" not a "legal contract".

The campaign was started in June to convince US billionaires to give away at least half of their fortunes either during their lifetimes or after their deaths.

Those who pledge their money to "philanthropic causes and charitable organisations" must publicly state their intention through a letter of explanation.

The organisation says many of the donors have committed to sums far greater than the 50% minimum level.

"While the Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from efforts in the past and at present that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds," says Givingpledge.org.

Mr Buffet pledged 99% of his money in 2006 to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities.

Bill and Melinda Gates have also given away more than $28bn (£17.6bn) to their own foundation.