The kingdom of heaven is like… One day the C.E.O of a fortune 500 investment company sat in his corner office 40 stories up. As he overlooked the financial district of lower Manhattan, he decided he wanted to invest more of his wealth to provide good things for his neighborhood. He was excited about his new business venture. That very day he called his top three investment banking associates to the office and told them his wish. They were eager to help him make this dream a reality. The C.E.O gave $5 million to the first associate, $2 million to the second, and $1 million to the third. ‘See what you can do for our neighborhood with this money,’ he counseled. At first the associates were unsure just how they would deal with the money they had just received.

After much contemplation, the first associate decided to invest in creating jobs in low-income neighborhoods. By so doing, he not only helped many people find jobs, but created five million more dollars for his C.E.O. The second associate invested in the shipping business. This improved the community and brought in an additional revenue of $2 million. The final associate was less adventurous. He simply placed the money in his desk and kept it safe, believing that this was the best way to protect the C.E.O.’s money.

When the C.E.O. reviewed the annual reports of the company, he noticed the investments the first two associates had made with the money. They had proved so profitable that he promoted them for their efforts, making them directors over a much greater portion of the company. The third employee, however, was carefully scrutinized for his delinquency and laziness. This associate had chosen not do anything valuable with the money. The CEO had no other choice but to fire the lazy man.