Happiness Does Not Require Wealth

For those of you new to Free Money Finance, I post on The Bible and Money every Sunday. Here's why.

Today I'm posting Proverbs 15:16, a verse that reminds me that money isn't the end all to having a great life. From the NIV:

Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

Now the Contemporary English Version:

It’s better to obey the Lord and have only a little, than to be very rich and terribly confused.

And finally from the Message:

A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

To me this verse hits to the heart of a vital fact: money isn't the key to happiness. You can be happy with a little money or a lot and you can be unhappy with nothing or with a fortune. In other words, money isn't what makes you happy, other things do. Things like family, friends, good health, enjoyment of life, and so forth.

That said, I'm shooting for being happy AND wealthy, but you don't have to have a lot of money to find happiness. :)

Thoughts and comments?

Comments

[Craig]

While money doesn't buy happiness, it helps....a lot. At least your bills are paid, you have a roof over your head, and you have money to buy food. Basically, money will take care of your basic needs.

Sure, you are not thinking about your basic needs when you are unhappy about something. That's because money takes those thoughts out of your head. You are able to think of other things.

It's interesting because the Catholic religion likes to preach about how money doesn't buy happiness, but the Vatican looks pretty rich to me!

[Old Limey]

As a non religious couple we are very happy with our life. We were baptized and raised in the Anglican church, attended Sunday school and Bible school, were married in church and our three children were baptized but as we got older we became very cynical about Christianity. The religious leader that we respect the most is the Dalai Lama.

By most standards we are wealthy. We are also very happily married, have been for 56 years, are not confused in the slightest, and don't have a ton of headaches. Our three children are also very happy and self supporting. Our first born, her husband, and their two adopted young daughters attend church regularly.

I have also managed our children's finances from the beginning and none of them have any money worries.

Unlike myself, my wife is quite generous and donates frequently to organizations that perform services that benefit a great many people.

[Matt]

Being content with your pay and having bills that match what you are able to earn, and being content,is the path to happiness. Just like living a frugal life and having much wealth saved up but not enjoying life would be hollow. Where you fall down is when you can only make so much and your wants and desires exceed that capacity to meet that. This applies to you no matter if you are rich or poor.

[Rob @FinancialSprout]

Money can relieve some of the stress caused by financial turmoil, but so can trust in God. If we don't have a great financial situation, but trust in the lord, he will provide for us. Time and time again God will provide for us, and we can focus on our family and other things that make us happy.

[Craig]

Rob@FinancialSprout,

I respectfully disagree with most of what you are saying. God will not provide food, shelter, or good health. A belief in "God" may lift your spirits, but certainly God does none of the things you are saying.

Additionally, you say that "we can focus on our family and other things that make us happy." In all honesty, only we, ourselves, can make us happy. "Other things" cannot truly make us happy. I don't mean to belittle what you are saying, nor do I wish to argue. The fact is that we are here, by ourselves. If "good" happens, then it happens. It doesn't mean the "Lord provided" the good. If that's the case, what do we call it if "bad" happens? The Devil did it?

I think the time of bed time stories is long over. Belief is one thing, but "living" is another. Its two totally different things. I can't feed my kids God, I can't pray that the mortgage will be magically paid each month, nor can I pray that the Thyroid Cancer I had/have will be whisked away by some diety.

Life is what you make of it. As the author of this blog writes, he wants as much money as he can make so he can lead a long and happy life. Trust me, that's not in the bible anywhere. That's just common sense. And God is not paying him....his advertisers are.

Again, I mean no disrespect, people can pray to whomever they wish, for as long as they want, but don't think for a second that he or she (God) is truly helping. If believing in God helps people through their daily lives, making it easier for them to live, that's fine. But as for paying bills, you need a job or someone to leave you money in their will. Otherwise, you'll have to hold your hands out to the Gov't because the Church is closed at night. And it's mighty cold outside!

[Rich@Money Wise Pastor]

Craig, I must respectfully disagree with your respectful disagreement with Rob's comment.

You are certainly free to think whatever you want about God, but you can't argue with someone else's experience.

I don't think Rob was saying that people of faith should sit on their duffs (and not work) and just wait for God to provide.

That being said, I've personally experienced many instances when my needs were met in certain specific ways, and they can only be attributable to God's provision, in answer to specific prayers.

I just wrote a post on my blog (www.MoneyWisePastor.com) about a $1.6 million financial miracle our church just experienced last week.

You might chalk it up to chance or serendipity. But we see it is an answer prayer.