Perspective on Pujols

Pujols with the Cardinals...

Many are discussing Albert Pujols and his $254 million agreement to play baseball for the Los Angeles (Anaheim) Angels. Pujols' contract, “is the second-highest in baseball history.” The amount seems mind-boggling. Some have said: “No man is worth $254 million dollars.”

Here’s some perspective:

Albert Pujols’ new contract value equals $254 million in exchange for 10 years of work ($25.4 million per year).

According to recent data, the average income of an Anaheim resident equals $47.1 thousand per year.

By comparison, the average annual salary of an Anaheim resident is approximately 1/539th the amount offered to Pujols.

Some have reacted to this reality with shock and anger. Some have said: “It’s just not fair.”

Let’s investigate further:

..............1,000 = One Thousand
.......1,000,000 = One Million
1,000,000,000 = One Billion

In 2011, the net worth of Mark Zuckerberg was estimated at $17.5 billion. Who is Mark Zuckerberg?

In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dormitory. In 7 years, the project earned him $17.5 billion ($2.5 billion per year).

Zuckerberg at the G8 summit in 2011.

Annual comparison:

.....$25,400,000 (Pujols)
$2,500,000,000 (Zuckerberg)

Pujol’s annual salary is approximately 1/100th that of Zuckerberg’s.

Is Pujols shocked and angered by Zuckerberg’s earnings?

He could be. After all, it doesn’t seem fair that Pujols has to run, sweat, leap, and dive – dodging major league fast balls and line drives in the scorching heat of summer to earn a living. Zuckerberg doesn’t have to do anything like that.

Thinking further, one may realize that the game of baseball requires Pujols to risk his very life and limb in order to perform at the highest level on the field. And after that, there is the matter of travel. With a 162-game schedule, the professional baseball player is constantly on the move. Travel is dangerous and can be a strain on the family unit. In the age of the Internet, Zuckerberg can do his work from the comfort of his home, or just about anywhere else he chooses to be.

In addition, above and beyond the physical requirements and hazards, Pujols is subject to an extreme expectation to perform, both on and off the field. As a baseball celebrity, society holds Pujols to the highest standard as a role model and performer. This comes with great responsibility. The news media and baseball fanatics constantly watch and scrutinize every move he makes. They apply constant pressure and demand perfection. Zuckerberg, on the other hand, doesn’t have to parade himself before millions of screaming fanatics every year.

After investigating all these factors, it seems that Pujols has to work much harder to scrape out a mere 1% of Zuckerberg’s earnings. And Zuckerberg has a lot of company at the top. There are at least 1,200 people on the earth who are known to have wealth in excess of $1 billion.

By similar measure as the average resident of Anaheim, Pujols could choose to burn himself up with anger over his comparatively pitiful situation. But that wouldn’t make much sense, would it?

The truth is, It doesn’t make a lot of sense to be angry at the good fortune of another.

In fact, The Holy Bible instructs us NOT to walk in envy, (see Romans 13:13). We are warned that envy is “rottenness to the bones,” (see Proverbs 14:30).

According to Jesus, the two greatest commandments in God’s Law are:

1) “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.”
2) “Love thy neighbor as thy self.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

When we choose to follow God’s commandments, we allow ourselves to be filled with God’s love. And God’s love is a love that does not envy, (see 1 Corinthians 13:4).

So, on the matter of Pujols and Zuckerberg, it is best to be thankful. We can be thankful that God has provided us “one nation under God.” A nation where the common man can achieve worldly success, out of which can come great good for the Kingdom of God (on earth as it is in Heaven). We can be thankful that we are free in this nation to discuss this matter. We have far too much to be thankful for in order to list all things here.

For us, as spiritual beings, we must continue to grow through ceaseless prayer (here’s a link that can help explain what that means). We need NOT to allow ourselves to get caught up in the amounts of baseball contracts and worldly comparisons that flare up envy and strife. We need to realize that we are already rich through Jesus - far beyond our own understanding.

Brothers and sisters, on this and every day, work to walk in the truth. Jesus is our only hope. He loves us more than we can imagine. Pray, listen, and obey, (see 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22, and James 1:22-25).

Blessings are upon you and yours in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.