WHEN PROSPERITY DOES NOT SATISFY
We do hear of countries being ranked according to the happiness index which take into account variables including, income (GDP per capita), healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust (absence of corruption) and generosity (1). Based on these the usual countries ranked high on the list of happy countries are the Scandinavian and Western countries. But when you look at the nations that have the highest rates of suicides, some of these countries fare terribly, especially when you compare them with many nations that are struggling including African nations, warn-torn nations like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc. where suicide rates are very low. While there could be many reasons for variable suicide rates including culture, religion, climate and so on, it is certainly interesting to note that living in a place ranked as a happy nation does not necessarily lower your suicide rates.
Every person wishes to improve his lot and advance in life. Prosperity is sought for and toiled for, but does prosperity satisfy? Does wealth and advancement in life bring meaning to life? It is generally believed that becoming prosperous does improve the quality of one’s personal life and brings happiness, but not beyond a certain level, beyond which increments in wealth make no difference. Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 5 give us clues as to why prosperity does not ultimately satisfy.
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. (v 10-12)
The inability of wealth to satisfy is proven by the fact that people in general are never happy with what they earn. When man makes money the love of his life, every step toward earning more brings only a transient excitement, followed by the desire for more. If only wealth could satisfy, would chasing wealth become meaningful as an endeavor. Solomon goes on to talk about consumerism, which is synonymous with the culture of affluent nations. He nails it when he says that the only benefit of having more goods is to feast one’s eyes on them as long as the interest lasts. When you buy a new dress, an ornament or a new car, you look at it with a great deal of excitement, but that wanes quickly, so much so that soon you barely notice it. And with wealth comes worry, when you are attached to your wealth. Even though your new toy no longer excites you as much, you still fear losing it and being worried leads to insomnia.
It is not hard to see why affluence does not necessarily bring satisfaction at a personal level. But is there is a solution? Solomon continues,
This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)
Here we see the God-centric attitude of people, whose primary focus is God and who recognize the brevity of their life here on earth as they move toward eternal life with God. They accept their God-given role of toiling in their respective arenas and find satisfaction in their work. They are able to recognize their possessions as gifts from God and without comparison to anybody else that has more or less, they rejoice in what God has given them and also take time to enjoy their possessions. Their life becomes a song of praise as they move through life with rejoicing and praise.
While affluence is good and there is nothing wrong with seeking it, satisfaction is ultimately only found in intimacy with God.
1. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/16/these-are-the-top-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world.html
