Peoples thirst for wealth and a stable future, makes their quest for higher credentials and a career their life focus. Achievements now are based on things that bring you closer to a higher profit, and if your not climbing the ladder of profit then you are failing. The trend is to get more, to get bigger, to get better. No one is satisfied with what they have, and are always looking for the next best thing. While the ability to support your family and secure a future is important, commanded even, many people take it too far, and worldly wealth becomes their obsession.
In the sixth chapter of the Book of Matthew, in the Bible, the Lord counsels his people to seek for the treasures of heaven before the treasures of earth; “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Where does this constant desire for wealth lead us? In my observation, most cases of constantly striving for more, leads only to unhappiness. When people focus all of their attention on accumulating wealth, they lose sight of the things that matter most in this life; family, testimony, prayer, scripture study, humility, and charity. Those fundamentals, combined with personal righteousness, equal the keys to happiness. One will not find lasting happiness in a dollar or in a purchase, but only through the constant desire to serve and be more like the Savior Jesus Christ.
In a world so caught up with money, and successful careers, how can one find balance between faith in God, and faith in “men”? The Lord gives us a simple answer, again in Matthew chapter 6. It reads:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for the body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of their air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
The lord is telling us that if we will put him first in our lives, and serve him, we will not be left alone by our Heavenly Father. He continues by saying,
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Being wealthy is not a sin, but it becomes sinful when you put the things of the world before God. It says that even Solomon, the king, in all his glory, did not put his wealth or power before God, and remained humble and charitable throughout his reign. This is how to find balance; by placing the Lord first, and trusting in Him. After, with hard work, He will provide for you. We should not focus all our attention on wealth, clothing, and food, because these things will not bring us lasting happiness, or salvation.
http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6.28?lang=eng#27
Megan, I really liked this essay. It provided me with a different view point on the values of wealth. I also enjoy reading it because of how your sentences flow and you do not sway from your opinion by including opposing view points.
ReplyDelete-Jaren Hackleman
I have to agree with you. One example that helps illustrate this point for me is the example set by the early prophets and apostles of the Church, like Peter, James, and Paul. After their calling to the apostleship, they gave up their works and dedicated the rest of their lives to furthering the work of the Lord. They never really knew when or where they would eat, sleep, or how they would pay for anything, yet they put the Lord before their own material gains. We know that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fairly successful fishermen, to the point were they weren't completely poor, and they were blessed significantly for their sacrifice. So thank you for bringing a very good point.
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