最近我聽到有個人中了相當驚人的 10 億美元樂透時，我就很想知道，「這個人會快樂多久呢？」到底受寵若驚的現實想要如何展開新生活，會帶來快樂嗎？還是反而會強加些沉重的責任和巨大的人生變化呢？

 一般來說，財力有限的人會認為金錢可以帶來幸福。然而，許多人已經發現，擁有充足的金錢也許會讓他們生活的某些部分變得更輕鬆，但想去經歷更幸福的生活，並不總是因著銀行存款的增加而來。  

研究顯示，一但人們的「基本生活必需」得到了滿足，一個適當的財務水平會讓幸福感達到最高點。當財務資源低於理想水平時多一點財富能減輕壓力，提供些許滿足感。然而，高於該水平的財富增加，並不保證幸福感會增加。事實上，有時會產生反效果。   研究告訴我們，購買和擁有東西—比如更多的衣服、更大的房子或一系列名車，並不會帶來幸福。它們實際上可能會增加一個人的壓力，例如：不想要的責任、維護的成本，甚至怕失去它們或為了保護它們免受損害而產生的憂慮。在很多情況下，我們可以說「少即是多」。舊約作者說得好:「貨物增添，吃的人也增添，物主得甚麼益處呢？不過眼看而已！」（傳道書 5章11節）。 

金錢真正能買到的是選擇的能力。它讓我們有能力辨認出什麼能給我們帶來快樂，還有那當實際去取得時所帶來的盼望。對於許多人來說，有一項金錢非常好的使用方式是用在旅行和分享經驗上。渡假、計劃旅行和擺脫日常生活，都能給我們的心理狀態帶來正面的影響。此外，有機會和我們最愛的人共度時光，做一些能有終生回憶的事情，也能帶來很多快樂。

金錢還可以「購買」時光：付錢給人們去做我們不喜歡或做得不好的「耗時工作」可以帶來快樂，並釋放我們的時間不用做這些必須的責任。例如，請人修剪草坪或僱用草坪服務可以贏得時間，讓人們能把時間花在他們更喜歡的事情上來增加幸福感。我們可以很明智的花錢買時光，與朋友共度的時光；享受嗜好的時光；有時間做我們真正想做的事情的時光等。

耶穌基督在祂的一篇講道中警告說：不要為自己積攢財寶在地上；地上有蟲子咬，能銹壞，也有賊挖窟窿來偷。只要積攢財寶在天上；天上沒有蟲子咬，不能銹壞，也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。因為你的財寶在哪裏，你的心也在那裏。（馬太福音 6章19-21節）。

使徒保羅在給他的門徒提摩太的信中，也指出了另一個無法用銀行帳戶或投資組合衡量的財富來源：「你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠無定的錢財；只要倚靠那厚賜百物給我們享受的　神。又要囑咐他們行善，在好事上富足，甘心施捨，樂意供給（或譯：體貼）人，為自己積成美好的根基，預備將來，叫他們持定那真正的生命。」（提摩太前書 6章17-19節）。這段經文充滿了許多的智慧。

©2021 JimMathis是堪薩斯州歐弗蘭帕克的作家，攝影師和企業主。他的最新著作是《駱駝和針The Camel and the Needle》，《基督徒看財富和金錢A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money》。他曾任堪薩斯州堪薩斯城和密蘇里州堪薩斯城的CBMC咖啡店經理和執行理事。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文(因經文較長，請查閱下列未列出的經文馬太福音6:24-34節)：

箴言 11章24-28節
11:24 有施散的，卻更增添；有吝惜過度的，反致窮乏。
11:25 好施捨的，必得豐裕；滋潤人的，必得滋潤。
11:26 屯糧不賣的，民必咒詛他；情願出賣的，人必為他祝福。
11:27 懇切求善的，就求得恩惠；惟獨求惡的，惡必臨到他身。
11:28 倚仗自己財物的，必跌倒；義人必發旺，如青葉。
箴言15章16節
15:16 少有財寶，敬畏耶和華，強如多有財寶，煩亂不安。
箴言18章11節
18:11 富足人的財物是他的堅城，在他心想，猶如高牆。
箴言23章4-5節
23:4 不要勞碌求富，休仗自己的聰明。
23:5 你豈要定睛在虛無的錢財上嗎？因錢財必長翅膀，如鷹向天飛去。
箴言28章22節
28:22 人有惡眼想要急速發財，卻不知窮乏必臨到他身。
哥林多前書 9章6-11節
9:6 獨有我與巴拿巴沒有權柄不做工嗎？
9:7 有誰當兵自備糧餉呢？有誰栽葡萄園不吃園裏的果子呢？有誰牧養牛羊不吃牛羊的奶呢？
9:8 我說這話，豈是照人的意見；律法不也是這樣說嗎？
9:9 就如摩西的律法記著說：「牛在場上踹穀的時候，不可籠住牠的嘴。」難道　神所掛念的是牛嗎？
9:10 不全是為我們說的嗎？分明是為我們說的。因為耕種的當存著指望去耕種；打場的也當存得糧的指望去打場。
9:11 我們若把屬靈的種子撒在你們中間，就是從你們收割奉養肉身之物，這還算大事嗎？ 

反省與問題討論

1. 在你看來，金錢能買到快樂嗎？如果能，是透過哪些方法？哪些東西是用金錢買不到的？
2. 我們大多數人或多或少都會被物質所吸引—衣服、汽車、新科技產品如電視、電腦和智能手機等。但過度的追求這些東西會帶來什麼問題呢？
3. 你對用金錢「買」時光的想法有甚麼看法？你覺得有道理嗎？請解釋你的答案？
4. 慷慨並樂於分享自己的財力和物力，如何能帶來快樂和滿足？

IS IT TRUE THAT MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS?

By Jim Mathis

When I recently heard about a person winning the phenomenal amount of one billion dollars in a lottery, I wondered, “How long will that person be happy?” Will the overwhelming reality of how to manage their new life cause happiness, or will it impose heavy weight of responsibility and profound change? 

Generally, people having limited financial resources think money can bring happiness. However, many people have discovered that having plenty of money might find some parts of their lives easier, but the experience of greater happiness does not always come with an increased bank balance.

Research have shown that once the basic necessities of life are covered, there is an optimum financial level where happiness peaks. Below that ideal level of monetary resources, having a little more would relieve stress and provide a bit more contentment. Income levels above the amount, however, do not guarantee increased happiness. In fact, they often have an opposite effect. 

Buying and possessing things – like more clothes, bigger houses, or a collection of luxury automobiles – does not bring happiness, studies have shown. They may actually add to a person’s stress – unwanted responsibility, maintenance costs, even worries over losing them or protecting them from damage. In many cases, we can say that “less is more.” The Old Testament writer said it well: “As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?” (Ecclesiastes 5:11).

What money can buy is the ability to choose. It enables us to identify what really brings us happiness, along with the hope of actually obtaining it. For many people, among the best uses for money are travel and shared experiences. Taking a vacation, planning a trip, and getting away from the everyday routine can have very positive effects on our state of mind. Also, having opportunities to spend time with the people we love most, doing things that make memories that last a lifetime, can bring much happiness.

Money can also “buy” time: Paying people to do time-consuming tasks we do not enjoy or do well can bring happiness, freeing us from having to perform those responsibilities. For example, having somebody mow the lawn or hiring a lawn service can buy time and therefore increase happiness by allowing people to devote their hours to doing things they enjoy more. We would be wise to spend our money to buy time: time with friends; time to enjoy hobbies, and time to do all the things we really want to do.

In one of His sermon’s, Jesus Christ warned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Writing to his protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul also pointed to another source of wealth that cannot be measured by a bank account or investment portfolio: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share…so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). There is much wisdom in this statement.

© 2021. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer and small business owner in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is The Camel and the Needle, A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money. He formerly was an executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. In your opinion, can money buy happiness? If so, in what ways? What are some things that cannot be acquired with money? 
2. Most of us, to one extent or another, are attracted to material things – clothes, cars, new technological devices like TVs, computers, and smartphones. What problems might result from the pursuit of such things excessively? 
3. What is your reaction to the idea of using money to “buy” time? Does that make sense for you? Why or why not? 
4. How can being generous and willing to share from one’s financial and material resources bring happiness and fulfillment?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 11:24-28, 15:16, 18:11, 23:4-5, 28:22; Matthew 6:24-34; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

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• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
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