By Gail Gritts
Health, Wealth, and Happiness
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for: a new car, a more beautiful home, and new clothes?
My sister and I used to play this game. We would wish for two things we wanted—whatever they might be, but we always reserved the third wish for three more wishes. That way we never ran out!
Our mother’s three wishes were always, “Health, wealth, and happiness.” We thought she was awfully dull, but she went on to explain, “Is there anything else you would need if you were happy, healthy, and wealthy?” We’d just look at her and keep on wishing for new toys, private rooms, and stuff like that. But her wisdom remained with us.
Ask yourself: Is there anything else one would need if they were healthy, wealthy, and happy?
HEALTH
Proverbs 4:20-22 says,“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
God’s word never promises us perfect physical health. In this word of sin, that is not a promise we can claim. Yet, there is no substitute for good physical health; it is truly a gift of God. Taking proper care of ourselves maintains our physical health. Since we are temples of the Holy Spirit, we should supply our body’s needs as if we were the caretakers of God’s house. That is all the more the reason for taking proper care of our physical health and needs.
There is physical health, mental and emotional health, and spiritual health. All of these are important. Here in Proverbs, we learn that heeding what God says leads to spiritual health; for His word is life and health.
Remember, we can have a healthy spiritual heart, and controlled mind and emotions if we attend to His word, even in the midst of poor physical health.
WEALTH
Honestly, most of us wish we were wealthier. We may even play with the thought of what great things we would do if we had unlimited resources. We think we would give to help others, but usually, what we could buy for ourselves quickly replaces that philanthropic thought. I believe our unchecked desire for material things is part of our fallen nature because Adam and Eve were perfectly content before sin entered.
However, even though we aren’t rich, we spend the majority of our lives accumulating things as if they could buy happiness. We line our walls with ornaments on shelves, and our cupboards bulge with unused appliances, yet we think we need more. Our unbridled desires have created a ferocious advertising industry that is persistently trying to convince us of the same.
True wealth and the ability to acquire it, are gifts from the Lord. In Deuteronomy 8:18 we are reminded, “But thou shalt remember the Lordthy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.”
Job 21:13 says those that forget the One who gives them the means to acquire worldly wealth,“…spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.” They lose true wealth, and that is the wealth of heaven.
If Christians will heed, God has promised them not only wealth on earth but also an eternal wealth in heaven.
I’m not preaching prosperity gospel, but look at Psalm 112:1-3 “Praise ye the Lord, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.”
I guess the bottom line is how you define wealth. Sounds to me like real wealth is intangible!
HAPPINESS
We all pursue happiness and seek it through fun, food, family, friends, etc. But God says happiness comes from wisdom and understanding. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” Proverbs 3:13.
It is also gained by work. “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee” Psalm 128:2.
Godly correction is another source. “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth” Job 5:17.
The fear of the Lord brings happiness. “Happy is the man that feareth always” Proverbs 28:14.
And somehow, suffering holds happiness. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye” 1 Peter 4:14.
Being content with such things as ye have, knowing what the Lord expects from you and performing it are also resources of happiness. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” John 13:17, and having the hope of glory, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lordhis God”Psalm 146:5, all of these add to the happiness of the child of God.
So, health, wealth, and happiness come from the Lord to those who seek Him, according to His word. They are so much more than a wish!
Indeed, health, wealth, and happiness in Christ are all any Christian would need, and God has promised them according as we heed His Word.
So, if I could grant you three wishes, what would be your requests?