The Bible says, ‘There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches’ (v. 7 NKJV). It’s a blessing to have the things money can buy, as long as we don’t lose sight of the things it can’t buy. Money can buy whatever is for sale. But the greatest things in life, like our health and our relationships, can’t be bought because they’re not for sale. We could sum up a lot of what the Bible has to say about money with these three statements: 1) What you are is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich’ (Proverbs 28:6 NKJV). 2) What God sees in you is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble’ (Proverbs 15:16 NKJV). 3) What others think of you is more crucial than what you have. ‘A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favour rather than silver and gold’ (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV). Don’t worry about keeping up with other people who appear happier or more successful than us. We don’t know what challenges are going on in their lives behind the scenes. It isn’t a competition to see who can do best at life – we’re all running our own race. The truth is, you’ll never be happy with what you have until you learn to be happy with what others have – and that you don’t have. The Bible tells us jealousy is a sin. And jealousy is simply failing to enjoy what God’s given you!
