“He who loves pleasure will suffer want; he who loves wine and perfume will not be rich.” Prov. 21:17
One of the key themes in my Bible study on James was growing in wisdom. One of the greatest sources of wisdom is the book of Proverbs. Since there are 31 days in most months and 31 chapters in Proverbs, we were encouraged to read a chapter each day. The verse above spoke to me as I read chapter 21.
God created us to know Him and love Him and serve Him. If we seek after things that bring us pleasure, like money, fancy clothes, rich food, or the approval of others, we will never be fully satisfied. Often, the more we get, the more we want. Some of the richest people in the world are also the unhappiest.
I think that what our souls ultimately long for is to be with God, and thus the things that make us truly happy in this life are those that bring us closer to that goal (things like prayer, the love of family and friends, and helping others). As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in thee.”
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