Originally Posted by charlottecharade  How many people have gone though the motions of day-to-day living without questioning their purpose for existence? Or perhaps if they have pondered the meaning of life, have they found a sound, legitimate reason for living? Don’t we all have a purpose? Or wouldn’t you like to believe that?
As a busy American, we don't like to do things for no reason. Realistcally, who does something "just because"? There's got to be a motivating factor behind their decision. There's got to be a deeper depth than meets the eye. There's got to be more to life.
We all want more. More money, more fame, more status. Yet once we start to get what we want, we are hardly content. We always want something more. If money can buy practically anything, can it buy happiness?
Perhaps the cliche of "money does not bring happiness" is merely a myth. Perhaps it was started by a rich man who had everything he wanted, and was just having a bad day. Is this statement legitimate?
Say you won the $1,000,000 jackpot. Would you be happy? Most people would not hestitate to admit they would. Sure, a little extra cash on hand would make life a little more comfortable. No one can deny that. So would it be honest to say that once you buy everything you could ever want or need, you are in a material heaven? Materially, you have all you need. However, emotionally you may be running dry.
Money directly effects people's emotions in that it can easily raise a person's instant happiness. A new house, a new car, a new wardrobe. All such things elevate a person's mood. However, it is important to note that these emotion-elevators are temporary. They simply don't last. Possessions come and go. Your physical body comes and goes. Your soul comes and stays.
Your soul, the center of your well-being, is the only thing that will last in the long run. All those years of building up wealth, status, fame, or fortune will seem like pure rubbish on your deathbed. They simply won't matter.
When posed the question of what they want out of life, most people would generally say happiness. Thus, they concluded that their purpose in life is to be happy. They would also agree that money brings happiness. Thus, wouldn't it be logical to say that the pursuit of money is the highway to happiness?
How many times have you heard a man lying on his deathbed, wishing he had clocked in more office hours? We hardly ever, perhaps never, hear a dying person gripe about the fact that their portfolio wasn't big enough. But all they wanted was to be happy! Money itself doesn't mean anything, looking at it from a physical standpoint. It is just a piece of paper. A thin piece of paper with various numbers and symbols on it.
Contrary to popular belief, money does not bring happiness. Instead, I believe that it can sometimes arouse discontentment and a spirit of greed. Money is never enough for people. It may fill a person's physical hole in that it provides them with material possessions, but it does not fill that emotional part of them. And we need both parts filled in order to feel content. We need to be physically and emotionally full.
So why try to fill your infinite well of emotional needs with money, which does not elict the expected emotions of happiness and contentment? If money is not the meaning of life, then what is? Why are we living? Why does it someitmes feel like we are running a futile race in which we havae no finish line? What's our goal in life? If your goal in life is to make big bucks, then good luck. The pursuit of money has no finish line. It is an infinite journey with no destination.
However, if you want something more out of life, if you want to experience a richer stay on earth, turn to something other than money. Turn to God.
God will fill your physical and emotional needs. His love is adequate. His love is infinite. His love is more than enough. |