Do money and possessions really buy happiness?

I like game shows on television. I like ‘The Price Is Right,’ ‘Jeopardy,’ and ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ in particular. I also enjoy Western series and movies. ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Bonanza’ are two of the top Westerns that I like.

Perhaps I have some wondering why I have brought up game shows and westerns in the same paragraph. I will try to explain. I got to thinking. (And that’s dangerous, flash the red lights, sound the bells). On many of the Western shows (not limited to those just named), bank, train, or stage coach robberies are the main story lines. By today’s standards, the hold-up men might only get away with a ‘small’ amount of cash, $5,000 or $10,000, even if it was a Wells Fargo coach.

I don’t know just how much of those stories were based on facts, but I was wondering what a person could do with a given amount of money, say maybe $5, 000? To most of us today, this amount is just ‘peanuts.’ This wouldn’t finance our standard of living too long. In many cases we’ve got more, but enjoy them less. Isn’t peculiarly funny how many of us get our wants and needs mixed up?

Many times greed gets the best of us. There is a game show on the Game Show Network called ‘Greed.’ A contestant can stay on it as long as he wants or until he misses answering a question correctly. After each correct answer, the emcee says ‘Do you want to quit. . . . or do you feel the need for greed’? I guess the real temptation would be to continue, but just think of the possible missing the very next question?

If we were able to get on one of those game shows and win a lot of money and things, what would we do with it all? Would it make us happier? Would it make us a better person? Would it make us easier to get along with? Would it create within us a real desire and knowledge to know how to get along with family and fellow man? Money is great to have, however, it can and does cause problems. A little or a lot, seemingly it makes little difference. Some people think true happiness can be bought. By such thinking they have failed miserably in their effort. Love of family and our fellow man cost nothing, but the reward thereof is significant.

Does it seem a little odd to you that many of us complain about the war in Iraq? What would you give for world peace?

Matthew 16:26 ‘ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?