I Went to a Garden Party

“I don’t care too much for money. Money can’t buy me love!”

McCartney and Lennon. They said a mouthful there. A truth that needs to be shouted from the moutain top.

So, what can it buy?

Well, like all things, money is neither good or evil. It simply exists. If you have it, great. If you don’t, then you might ahve a problem.

That said, it’s what money does. Statistics show that the cause of marital strife is almost always money. I remember some serious screaming matches my parents used to have over it. Dad never seemed to make enough and was reminded of it often.

And I arrested more than a few individuals involved in domestics that when we got right down to brass tacks, that was the cause of the incident.

So money doesn’t buy happiness. In fact, 1 Timothy 6:10 has a warning concerning it. it states that the LOVE of money is teh :”Root of all kinds of evil.”

It’s what money is used for. it can put food on your table, provide for an education. It can also buy you an addiction or debt your don’t need.

So having lots and lots of money, doesn’t always make you happy. I’ve known a millionaire or three that were the most miserable people on this rock.

Likewise, I’ve known a few people who didn’t have two pennies to rub together who were also miserable.

But then you run into those rare people who are either very rich or very poor and yet they are truly happy.

What’s the difference?

Could it be as simple as they know their happiness isn’t found in what they own or don’t own?

A smart man I know summed it up this way. “You want to know what’s important in life? Go to a funeral. Look around. What you find at the edge of the grave is what’s important.”

And it’s true. You find a family. You find friends. You find a man or woman of faith presiding over it all.

I’ve never once seen a Brinks armored car at a funeral.

Rather than chasing after more money, or the latest sports car or phone, these people are happy with what they do have or who they are with, Maybe they use what they have for edification of others. Maybe they’re just happy being around people rather than trying to impress them?

Maybe they listened to another singer who sang, “You can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.”

Maybe that’s the answer.

Don’t chase after the crowd or possessions. Chase after the things that make you smile.