…that makes happiness. — Charles Spurgeon
It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. Many people have so much money and material possessions, but they are terribly unhappy. Conversely, those who have considerably less are some of the happiest people on the planet.
This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.
My maternal grandmother passed away many years ago, but she made a great impression on me. She knew first hand that it’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes for happiness. She never forgot the lessons learned as a young woman living through the “Great Depression”. In fact, they shaped her frugal, resourceful, enterprising and creative personality. I still remember her favorite expression, “Let’s make do.” and she did time and time again; always with style and refinement.
She went through times of hardship and plenty as a wife, mother, grand and great grandmother. But, through hard work and determination, she was also a college graduate; a teacher, painter, gardener, seamstress, interior decorator, real estate investor and business owner. She retained her practical nature all of her life. I remember when I was newly married with children, she spent time mentoring me on how to decorate, meal plan, parent, bargain hunt, clean, organize and entertain. She knew how to enjoy life and that was the key to her happiness. I miss her.
It’s not how much we have that creates happiness and having more possessions is certainly no guarantee. In fact, sometimes an increase in money and material goods can create more problems than it solves. Having more may cause us to worry about losing what we’ve worked for or it can create the burden of having to work harder just to maintain our standard of living.
If we base our happiness on how much we have or wait until we have more to enjoy life, we may run out of time!
It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile–like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 6:9 NET)
If we keep grasping for more money and possessions, we will never be satisfied. Developing an attitude of gratitude and contentment can help us to enjoy what we already possess.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 says, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (NLT)
The Bible cautions us against the love of money. But, to love and revere God along with contentment; is itself great wealth.
Material gain may cause us to lose something of greater value such as our faith and devotion to the Lord. In addition, if we are too focused on accumulating more money and possessions; our health and relationships can suffer as well.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
It’s not how much we have, but it’s how much we enjoy the people in our lives and the blessings from God; that makes happiness.
Life isn’t always rosy and we won’t always enjoy everything, but God can help us through times of adversity; and He can help us to be joyful even when we are suffering. We can choose gratitude and contentment, and we can decide to enjoy our lives just as they are today.
Are you waiting until you have more to enjoy life?
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