Money Can’t Buy You Happiness

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”  Revelation 3:17

The last of the seven churches of Revelation was the church in Laodicea, a wealthy city in ancient Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).  The church members had come to rely on their riches for their well being rather than on Christ.  They had just enough religion to call themselves a church, yet were far from being true members of the body of Christ.  They were just “playing church” and had no real sense of worshipping God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  Their riches were their god.  To Jesus they were so distasteful that He threatened to spit them out of His mouth like one would spit out lukewarm water.

However, it seems that having riches is the goal of the majority of people in the world.  All the money spent on buying lottery tickets is proof of that.  All the game shows on television that offer big money prizes are also very popular with folks.  In the 1950’s, there was a television program entitled “The Millionaire” in which a very wealthy benefactor would send his representative out to find a “deserving” person to whom he could give one million dollars.  And in the 1950’s, a million dollars was worth a good bit more than it is today.  Of course, that program was also popular.

A few years ago, on the same day that I had studied this verse and had written down some thoughts, I went to my part-time job and when I arrived, I said, “Good morning” to the young mechanics who were working there at the time.  I asked them how they were doing, and one spoke up and said, “I’m O.K., but I would be better if I was rich!”  The words of this scripture rang in my ears.  I thought, “If only you knew that money can’t buy you happiness, heal your wounds, give you lasting peace, or solve all your problems.”  I didn’t want to lecture him and come off as some “holier than thou”, judgmental old woman, but his statement confirmed what most of the world believes–that money is the answer for everything.  This young man eventually moved on to another place of employment, likely still hoping to “strike it rich” one day.

Scripture tells us that the “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (I Timothy 6:10), and that has certainly proven true judging by all the crime that we hear about on a daily basis.  Also anytime that we hear about some plot, scheme, or policy change that some desire to foist upon others, the smart thing to do is to “follow the money trail”.  Money or power or both are almost always the motive behind political leaders’ efforts to make major changes in policy.  Have you ever wondered how many politicians leave office much wealthier than they were when they were first elected?  It is really sad that some politicians, celebrities, and ordinary folks never come to the realization that the only true riches are found in a relationship with Christ.