A Different Life

I can't get no satisfaction. The Rolling Stones

Imagine for a moment how different your life would be if you didn't want more money. No, I'm not suggesting that we don't need money to survive, nor am I suggesting that capitalism is not the best way to run an economy if we desire to remain free. I'm not talking about being a slug and not wanting to improve your situation or your environment. I just am wondering what life we be like... if we were satisfied with the blessings of the day.

Perhaps we would enjoy our lives more, if we were not continually worrying about "getting ahead". Again, I am not suggesting that we somehow abandon sound Bible teachings on staying out of debt or putting aside for a rainy day, I'm just saying that we can do these things without our thoughts being consumed by the process.

If we did not want more money, I suspect that our focus would be more upon the things that God has said are important. I suspect that we would enjoy our families more, that we would worship with the church more and that we would enjoy our leisure time more - for the simple reason that our thoughts concerning money would not be continually stealing from these times.

I recall a telephone conversation I had with a loan officer some 17 years ago. She was looking over our loan application and, while she said we had plenty of income to support the loan, her firm was concerned that our income had gone down significantly from the year before. When I explained that I was self-employed and had decided to work less hours to spend more time with my family, there was a pause at the other end. She said, "Wow! I have never heard anyone say that before". How sad! But the really sad thing was that it took this workaholic over a dozen years to realize that God and family, not more money, were the keys to true wealth. I still have to remind myself of this... from time to time. How about you? Would your life be different if you didn't want more money?

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But, if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
I Timothy 6:6-8, NIV