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Money And Happiness
By Money Sick | November 9, 2007
A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver, neither any lover of wealth with income. This too is vanity. ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10
Granted, money has power. It can buy fine homes, elegant wardrobes, and dazzling furnishings. It may also buy adulation, compliance, or flattery, even producing a few temporary and obliging friends. But that is about as far as the power of money goes. What we need most, money cannot buy — the love of one true human friend, peace of mind, a crumb of heartfelt solace in the hour of death. And for those who cherish their relationship with God, money cannot buy God’s approval.
One of the most surprising findings regarding human behaviour is that the accumulation of money and material things does not necessarily provide a corresponding increase in satisfaction and happiness. What many researchers have come to realize is that once a person reaches a certain level of affluence, his sense of well-being is independent of how many material goods are available to him.
Many people have come to realize that what really matters for individual happiness is that one has spiritual assets, meaningful pursuits in life, and moral values. Also important are human relationships and freedom from the conflicts or constrictions that could prevent us from enjoying what we have.
King Solomon, who had all the good things that money could buy in his day, recognized that trusting in material possessions does not lead to lasting relationship. Money can be lost through bank failure or inflation. Real estate can be destroyed by severe storms. Insurance policies, while partially replacing material losses, do not make up for emotional losses. Stocks and bonds can become worthless overnight in a sudden economic crash. Even a well-paying job can be here today and gone tomorrow.
The Bible shows that money provides a practical defense against poverty and its attendant troubles, enabling people to procure necessities. King Solomon wrote,”Wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection.” And, “Bread is for the laughter of the workers, and wine itself makes life rejoice; but money is what meets a response in all things.” ~ Ecclesiastes 7:12;10:19
Topics: Life, money | No Comments »
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