How much money does one need to be happy? According to a study from Princeton University, it’s $75,000 (US dollars) a year. The study claims that the lower a person’s annual income falls below that benchmark, the unhappier he or she will be.
At a recent trip to a rural district in Thailand, however, I saw a lady peddling snacks in a rowboat. She makes less than $200 US a month, but there’s a genuine glow in her smile. I suspect that at night she sleeps better than the executive on his Vividus mattress (the most expensive bed in the world!).
The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:6, “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” One commentary defines godliness this way: “Reverence for or devotion to God, producing a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life.”
A person devoted to God and not to the things of the world recognizes that material things are transitory. Just as we entered the world without any possessions, so we shall leave it. Material things are simply tools we should use to bring glory to God. So when we have the basic necessities of life, food, and clothing, we can and should be content (1 Timothy 6:8).
As Christians who live in a materialistic world, it takes deliberate effort to cultivate the attitude of contentment. One Bible commentator wrote, “If you are afraid that perhaps the love of money is getting a hold on your soul, start giving some of it away and see how you feel! If you feel really glad, then you are still safe; but if it almost breaks your heart, then it is time to get down on your knees and pray to be freed from this sin of covetousness! It is going to ruin you unless you are delivered from it.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ruth 3:1-18
More:
Pray Proverbs 30:7-9 as you strive to honor God with your money.
Next:
How do you view the relationship between wealth and happiness? How can one cultivate the attitude of contentment in a society that promotes consumerism?
kewi on March 17, 2012 at 8:02 am
Thanks for this devotional. My wife and I know a family of five in Mexico that live in a very small house. They make very little money and when we were invited over to their house for supper, they did not even have forks for supper. But the love of God they had in their hearts and the happiness they had touched us deeply. One of my best nights out for supper that we can remember.
GChoo on March 17, 2012 at 11:43 am
Poh Fang, thank you for your reminder.
I remember as a child where there weren’t all these latest gadgets, we children would come up with ways to enjoy our days. Nowadays, even with all the latest gadgets, it is still not enough. Just like the latest iPad, the first person actually waited in the queue 4 days before it went on sale recently. Some people are just not content with what they already have. We may have once been there too. Sadly this is what is happening in many developed countries and more obviously so in the emerging countries.
We Christians do really need to stay close to God’s Word and pray that we do not blindly follow the ways of the world.
jstabel on March 17, 2012 at 2:21 pm
This should be a daily reminder for Christians due to the times we are in,the easy lust after material things,Thanks for the remnder just in time.