Ecclesiastes 5:10
Whoever loves money never has enough;
Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
Money has a direct relationship with happiness until a certain point. There is a plateau in the connection between salary and contentment after a threshold of around $75,000 to $100,000 in annual income. This research suggests that more money is not always the answer. Multiple factors can influence our bliss including fear and doubt, but gratitude is the antidote for these qualms. In a Harvard study, they found that writing about the moments of gratitude in your life can impact your well-being. They also found that there was a significant increase in joy after writing a note of gratitude to someone who was never properly thanked for their kindness. This demonstrates the positive effect of retaining a humble and benevolent heart even when it comes to your finances.
Maintaining our bliss in the modern world is increasingly difficult. Recent evidence suggests that social media is one of the mediums responsible for mental health issues despite its ability to connect us . 61% of the global population use social media, and Facebook is the largest platform with 3.05 billion users. The average social media user interacts with 6.6 social media platforms. While there is great capability for community on these platforms, there is also room for comparison. 1 in 3 teens compare themselves to those they see on social media. This differs from the 14% of the general population that say they compare themselves.
When it comes to finances, over half of people to say they feel less prosperous when comparing themselves to others. Similarly, one half of people say social comparison makes them feel like they are falling behind in their life goals. Therefore, there must be a balance between utilizing social media and not allowing it to have control over us. Though there can be hate spewed online, there is also great love. Others encouraging others and building them up, just as God instructs us to do in His word. Look for love online, and there you will also find peace. The peace that keeps you from comparison and turns you toward sincere appreciation for what you do have.
We are told by Solomon in Ecclesiastes not to set our sights on earthly possessions, but to fix our sights on what can truly fulfill our lives. Ensuring that we surrender to the will of God instead of our own nature can develop the fruit of the spirit in our lives. In the New Testament, as John is baptizing people, Roman Soldiers ask how they can repent. He tells them, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:14). He simply tells them to hold integrity even in the small things and to appreciate what one has.
Citations
Karim, Fazida, et al. “Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review.” Cureus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7364393/.
“Does Money Buy Happiness? Here’s What the Research Says.” Knowledge at Wharton, 23 Aug. 2023, knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/does-money-buy-happiness-heres-what-the-research-says/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20simplest%20terms%2C%20this,more%20money%20won’t%20help.
“Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier.” Harvard Health, 14 Aug. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier.
Prosperity Index Study – Intuit, www.intuit.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Intuit-Prosperity-Index-Report_US_Jan-2023-1.pdf. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.
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