Living as a true Christian in the world today can be quite discouraging. Everyday it seems things get worse for those with faith in spiritual things rather than physical things. While physical or material things are nice to have and sometimes make life "easier", how much of them do you need to acquire to find true happiness? Many living now have the attitude "You only have one life to live...", so they spend countless hours and years working to achieve unparalleled success in careers and businesses ventures, all the while acquiring multiple houses, exotic cars, rare art, the finest jewelry and many others "treasures on earth". Sadly, many of the people who achieve such success accomplish it by ill or corrupt means, influenced by this "wicked" system, they themselves become "wicked" in deeds and acts as they strive to maintain their lifestyles. This often makes "meek" hearted individuals feel despair, as they continue to see the wicked prosper, but how does the Sovereign Lord Jehovah feels about this:

Do not be afraid because a man becomes rich,

Because the splendor of his house increases,

For when he dies he can take nothing with him;

His splendor will not go down with him.

For during his lifetime he congratulates himself.

(People praise you when you prosper.)

But he finally joins the generation of his forefathers.

They will never again see the light.

A man who does not understand this, although honored,

Is no better than the beasts that perish. - Psalm 49:16-20 NWT

The words above teach us, despite all the time and things we do to acquire material riches, we can not take them with us to the grave. King Solomon echoed the wisdom of the words above when he said:

I came to hate all that I had worked so hard for under the sun, because I must leave it behind for the man coming after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? - Ecc 2:18,19

Just as one came from his mother’s womb, naked he will go away, just as he came. And he cannot carry away anything for all his hard work. - Ecc 5:15

In all his wealth and prosperity, at the end of the matter, Solomon in his God given wisdom realized the most important thing in life was to "Fear the True God and keep his commandments". Having a relationship with Jehovah, the source of true wisdom, is more important than any riches. Why, because even when material things or riches perish, a good name with God is everlasting. Jehovah God's son Jesus when on earth, echoed this same thought when he said:

Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matt 6:19-21

There is nothing wrong with acquiring nice things, but never let the pursuit of them distract you from the most precious prize of all, a relationship with the true God Jehovah. For in this system of things, we all perish, but a good name with Jehovah will keep us alive and well in his limitless memory. Thus, if we should perish now, we have a future hope that is guaranteed in the rule of his son Christ Jesus, who will resurrect billions in his Fathers memory. What a grand hope and exciting future we have before us. Until that time, strive to develop wisdom by taking in knowledge of the true God Jehovah and his son Christ Jesus. (John 17:3) In this way, the words of Solomon may be fulfilled when he said "...Wisdom preserves the life of its owner." (Ecc 7:12)