JON has had a very successful career as a consultant in the United States. Even as a young man, he traveled around the world and made a lot of money. He and his wife had a nice home and a comfortable lifestyle. In the eyes of many, they were blessed.
Consider another case. Of more than 5,000 applicants, Kostas * was one of only 80 apprentices who trained at a well-known European bank. Within just a few years, he was promoted repeatedly and eventually appointed head of a large department of another bank. When he left this job to start his own business, he made more money in one year than most people earn in his life. He felt blessed.
However, both men are convinced that there are blessings greater than material riches. For example, today Jon is a volunteer Bible teacher and helps others to get closer to God. "I have personally seen and experienced that material wealth does not lead to happiness," says Jon. "The struggle to get and keep it leaves time for little else, but life on biblical principles opens so many blessings, such as a much happier marriage, inner peace, and a clear conscience."
Similarly, Kostas remarks, "God does not want us to live an opulent life, and I firmly believe that everything He gives us that exceeds our daily needs obliges us to use His will." Recently, Kostas and his family began to learn another language to teach more people Biblical principles. He says, "We have learned that giving makes us happier than receiving." Acts 20:35.
In fact, Jon and Kostas have learned that spiritual blessings are much more valuable than material riches. Daniel Gilbert, a professor at Harvard, states that mental health professionals "have studied the relationship between wealth and happiness for decades, and have generally concluded that wealth does not increase human happiness when it takes people out of dire poverty to increase happiness later. "
A Lesson Often Painfully Learned
"Once above the poverty line," a thoughtful observer noted, "income increases have surprisingly little to do with personal happiness." At the beginning of the last century, a reporter had impressed this lesson by interviewing Andrew Carnegie, a pioneer of the steel industry, who was then one of the richest men in the world. "I'm not to be envied," Carnegie told him. "How can my wealth help me, I am 60 years old and can not digest my food, I would give all my millions if I could have youth and health"
The reporter then added, "Mr. Carnegie suddenly turned around and said in a muted voice and with a bitterness and depth of indescribable feeling," If I could make Faust's deal, I would do it. "I would like to sell everything to have my life back." Another multi-millionaire, oil magnate J. Paul Getty, later agreed, "Money does not necessarily have any connection to luck, maybe bad luck."
Perhaps you agree with the Bible writer who asked, "Do not give me poverty or wealth. Let me eat the food that is prescribed for me, so that I am not satisfied, and I will actually deny you and say, Who is Jehovah? "I do not go to poverty and steal and attack the name of my God" (Proverbs 30: 8, 9).
King Solomon of ancient Israel declared, "I grew up and grew more than anyone else who happened to be in Jerusalem before me." But he added, "Everything was vanity and a pursuit of wind." Solomon also said, "The blessing of Jehovah - that makes you rich, and he adds no pain." - Ecclesiastes 2: 9-11; 5:12, 13; Proverbs 10:22.
The Way to Everlasting Blessings
Of course, we can only find true and lasting bliss if we adequately satisfy our spiritual needs. If we put God first, we will find that every aspect of our lives becomes richer and more rewarding.
Luckily, we can say that money is not always a matter of concern. The Bible assures us a future when the greedy and exploitative trade is permanently eliminated. (1 John 2: 15-17) God's new system of things to follow is determined by His righteous principles. The earth will be turned into a paradise, as God had originally intended, when he laid the first pair on it. What a blessing it will be to see the whole earth full of bliss, peace and love! (Isaiah 2: 2-4, 2 Peter 3:13, 1 John 4: 8-11.
If we put God first, our lives can become more rewarding
Life will not be severe or boring at this time. Material blessings will accompany the spiritual, just as God fulfills his original purpose, that people live forever in a paradisiacal earth. We are sure that there will be more than enough food, shelter and meaningful work for everyone. Poverty will be completely eradicated (Psalm 72:16). Isaiah 65: 21-23; Micah 4: 4.
Anyone who sincerely believes in Jehovah, the God of the Bible, will not be disappointed. (Romans 10: 11-13) So how wise then to pursue the blessings that are greater than the riches (1 Timothy 6: 6-10).