Pastor Ken
“Contented people are happy even when they are poor, discontented people are unhappy even when they are rich.” This thought originated from Lao Zi’s book, Dao De Jing, more than 2,000 years ago. The contentment mentioned here refers to the possession and use of material things, but not personal growth or life experience. However, when we survey human lives throughout history, we’ll find this conclusion: Many people think that there can never be too much material, and the more they have, the happier they’ll be. So, they must endlessly strive to own more stuff.
Exactly how much is enough?
Perhaps to those who are always pursuing more money and wealth, what they really want is not material satisfaction.
Some people want power. To have power, one needs money. Dictators who rely on military strength need money to support a vast army and buy arms. In democratic countries, elected leaders need money to run campaigns and buy media time to spread their messages. Even in the business world, securing a seat as the chairperson of the board needs lots of money.
Many people accumulate wealth to gain a sense of security. They may have experienced poverty or war, and have no one to turn to but themselves. Money makes them feel safe. But then, how much money is sufficient to create a sense of security?
This leads back to the basic question. How much is enough?
Quite a few countries conduct research to set a poverty line according to the local living standards. For example, in the United States in 2023, a family of four with a yearly income of US$30,000 is the federal poverty line. Exceeding this level means they have enough to meet their basic needs. Some experts on the Internet have done the work for you and can tell you how much you need to save to maintain your current lifestyle after you retire at 65.
However, most people are still worried and unable to be content with what they have. They would rather work nonstop to accumulate more wealth.
The Bible says, “We brought nothing into the world, and we can’t take anything away. As long as we have food and clothing, we should be content.” This teaching points out that material things, like clothes and food, are needed for basic needs. They aren’t for enjoyment or to show off. Clothes are for maintaining our normal body temperature. Having clean clothes to wear and to change means we have enough. Food is for nutrition to keep our physical strength. An intake of 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day is generally enough for an adult. Eating more will lead to obesity. When our basic needs are met, we should learn to be content. This is a belief and teaching of Christian values, not a conclusion drawn from logical thinking.
I feel privileged that I was taught such values since childhood. Looking back, I did live through a stretch of time trying to save every penny. To save postage, I used the thinnest paper and tiniest handwriting. One snowy winter, I wore the same coat every day to last the whole season. I was happy because I had food, shelter, family, and friends. I was grateful and had peace of mind because I lived above the poverty line with God in my life.
Contented people do not think much about accumulating wealth for themselves. They would rather spend time and energy, even money, to cultivate spiritual growth. They strive to honor God and to serve others. Contentment certainly leads to lasting happiness.
