One of my mother’s favorite poems was called “One Small Rose” (author unknown). Because of difficult circumstances in her life, my mom never had much of anything on this earth. However, even the few possessions she did have, she would share with others. The following is the first stanza of that poem:

“I would rather have one small rose

From the garden of a friend

Than to have the choicest flowers

When my stay on Earth must end.”

Meaningful relationships with others is so much better than money. So many people spend too much of their lives pursuing prosperity, buying more “stuff”, then building big houses to keep all their “stuff” in. Then, they put in alarm systems, safes, and more locks on their doors, pay a lot for home insurance to protect all of their “stuff”, then, often pay people to clean their houses and all the “stuff” in them, and yet, they still continue to buy more “stuff”. Some houses look more like museums than homes. Those kind of people are too busy to take the time to develop  meaningful and lasting relationships with God, their family, and friends. They rarely take time to even spend their money on vacations or other enjoyable experiences. Perhaps they think they will have time for those things when they retire, but if they live to retirement age, will they still have any family or close friends with whom to share those experiences?

If you find that you are caught up in the lifestyle described above, 1 Timothy 6:6-10 is a good reminder: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we should be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith with their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Verse 11 then tells us “to flee those things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Having those character qualities will certainly make for lasting relationships.