Wealth

written by Stephan Joubert

"If we are so wealthy, why aren't we comparably happy?" That is a question that a philosopher asked somewhere, and it is sticking with me. He says that people whose living standard increases does not see their happiness increase by the same margin. Somewhere something is out of balance. No wonder that a happiness survey undertaken by Time Magazine at the end of 2004 found that only 17% of people are abundantly happy, 60% are happy sometimes, and the rest is never happy.

Who knows, maybe it is not about outer happiness, but about inner rest and contentment. This type of inner peace to which Paul points in Philippians 4 is not dependent on our circumstances, our daily emotions, or our material wealth. It is not reactive, but an inner rest in God. It is to know that our lives are in the hands of a graceful Father, no matter what happens. It is to feel hidden in Him. Inner calm is the knowledge that my fate is in the care of someone stronger than me. Then I have arrived home. Then God is my place of residence.