As a full-time personal trainer since 1987, I have been around a lot of rich people and have observed that money doesn’t make anyone happier, despite what many people think.
I’ll always remember what one rich person told me: “Money definitely doesn’t make one happy, but it does make misery, more bearable.”
Another story that I will always remember refers to the “easy life” of a rich person. When I showed up at her door to train her, she opened it and immediately exclaimed, “I am so stressed out!” I asked why, expecting to hear about some emergency, or someone who just went to the hospital, and she proceeded with, “The sink is full of dirty dishes, and I don’t know if I should put them in the dishwasher before the housekeeper gets here, or leave them in the sink.”
I waited a few moments for her to continue with the rest of her story to get to the part where someone had been kidnapped or one of her kids hit their head and was in a coma, but that was it.
So, being me, and having the natural brain wiring to respond with questions (and trying not to laugh), I asked if the housekeeper had ever taken dishes out of the sink and put them in the dishwasher before. She answered, yes. I then asked if that was ever a problem. She answered no. I then asked if that’s within the scope of their job description. She answered yes. I asked if that would bother them. She answered no. I then asked why it bothers her, and she couldn’t give me a reason, so she instantly felt completely fine.
I realized that people with no job or responsibilities to speak of (she did have three children, but two nannies and three housekeepers) must create their own stress, even if that means making mountains out of molehills.
The reason for this is God wired us to handle stress and respond to stress because it’s actually good for us. No one ever changed by remaining within their comfort zone. Change only happens outside our comfort zone and stress brings us out and challenges us to become (hopefully) better and stronger (like exercise does).
Many of us feel frustrated when we see rich people succeeding, especially when they inherited money and didn’t have to work for it, or they are greedy, selfish, unkind people who appear to succeed at every turn. It doesn’t feel fair, especially to those of us who are working hard, are good people, and help others.
Rich people also have a hard time accepting Jesus as their savior and surrendering to him, mainly because they feel like they don’t “need” him, as they already have a God – their money.
The late pastor Ken Hutchinson of Antioch Bible Church, once addressed this topic and I’ll always remember what he said about it. He suggested the possibility that because God is so gracious, he allows certain rich people who will never see heaven (and will spend an eternity in the other place) to accumulate wealth (what they think will make them happy) so in this brief twinkling of an eye moment of life we have on earth, they are allowed to “get what they want” before the rest of their miserable eternity.
Ever since then, I have felt sorry for them, and remember to pray for their salvation because even though it’s hard for them to be saved, it’s still possible! I would much rather struggle through this very brief life here on earth and spend an eternity with God, than be rich and have that prevent me from realizing the need for Him and miss out on the decision of salvation.
I do know Christians who are rich and unhappy, but also Christians who are rich and happy. I would prefer to be one of the latter, but since I have surrendered completely to God, He’s in control of that so I don’t fret over it. It may happen, and it may not, and both options are OK with me.
Here’s the secret to being rich and happy: Having the mindset that none of it is yours. It’s all God’s, and you are a steward of it to help others and expand God’s kingdom. When you’re giving it away for kingdom purposes, and seeing how it helps, others, happiness comes your way, but much more than that. Actual joy flows through you as God’s generosity and blessings flow through you to others inside and outside his kingdom.
We can do this, starting today, no matter how much we have by giving of ourselves to help others and expand God’s kingdom in our own way, with the gifts, God has given us, and the brain wiring he gave us. Then we can feel true joy, no matter what our circumstances whether we are rich or not.
Mother Theresa chose a life of poverty, despite her fame and opportunities for riches because she got all her joy through Christ and working in his kingdom. She may have been one of the happiest people and joyful people ever to walk the face of the earth.
The next time you are upset by how “undeserved” or even wicked people seem to be succeeding at every turn, Psalm 37 is your go-to chapter in the Bible. Check it out today. You will see this issue has been around since the dawn of man.
