| When we lack certain things, the joy of living is | | | | as earnings from record sales worldwide. But in |
| diminished. In some instances we may become | | | | spite of his phenomenal career success, he did |
| severely distressed and even incapacitated by | | | | not find happiness and fulfillment in close |
| such lack. When we are sick, in other words, | | | | relationships. His marriage to Priscilla Presley did |
| when we lack good health, it is not a happy | | | | not turn out to be blissful. He was involved in |
| situation and we do all we can to regain our | | | | other relationships that ended on a sour and |
| health. When someone is poor, that is, when they | | | | acrimonious note with settlements taking place in |
| lack money and material possessions, life is not | | | | and out of court. Michael Jackson may have |
| very enjoyable. Such a person is not able to live | | | | ranked as one of the richest and most famous |
| the way they wish or do the things they want. | | | | men in the world, but he certainly was not one of |
| Poverty oppresses and incapacitates. As individuals | | | | the happiest. Fame and riches are simply not |
| and as nations, we all are desirous to distance | | | | enough. We need spiritual wealth to guarantee |
| ourselves from poverty. | | | | happiness and fulfillment in life. (The King of Pop, |
| Likewise, life is not so full and joyful when we fail | | | | Michael Jackson, died on 26 June 2009 of heart |
| to find happiness and fulfillment in relationships and | | | | attack at the age of 50). |
| in our work. (By relationships, I mean relationship | | | | The late Princess Diana had everything going for |
| with God and with our fellow human beings). The | | | | her, it seemed. She became a member of one of |
| deep desires we have to commune with deity | | | | the world's most loved and respected royal |
| and to love and be loved by others are emotional | | | | families by marriage. In terms of material wealth |
| needs we are born with. And so we find that | | | | and social status, her union with British royalty |
| human beings experience want in three identifiable | | | | catapulted her to the very top. However, the |
| areas. Life requires us to cope with physical, | | | | love of God and fellow man, which are pointers to |
| material and spiritual wants. | | | | spiritual wealth, were not particularly evident in her |
| The saying, "health is wealth" implies that | | | | private life. In marriage, the closest of human |
| someone in good health can be said to have | | | | relationships, happiness and fulfillment eluded her. |
| physical wealth. When a person has a lot of | | | | In time, she slid from the position of dream |
| money and material possessions we describe | | | | princess to the level of adulterous spouse and |
| them as being materially wealthy. In the same | | | | then chose to tag along as girlfriend to a wealthy |
| vein, when someone finds happiness and fulfillment | | | | businessman. We all know the tragic end to her |
| in relationships and in their work, they can be said | | | | story. She was killed in a car crash while on a trip |
| to possess spiritual wealth. And this brings us to | | | | with her lover. |
| the concept of total wealth. To have total wealth | | | | As monarch of an oil producing Arab State, the |
| is to be completely free from physical, material | | | | late King Hussein of Jordan enjoyed the affluence |
| and spiritual lack. This is the holistic model of | | | | and influence that come with his position. But while |
| success. A person is truly wealthy only when they | | | | all was well materially, he was wanting in physical |
| have gained total wealth. | | | | wealth. Even the best doctors in the United |
| In general, people tend to be primarily concerned | | | | States could not save him from the cancer that |
| with their material well being. Hence they focus on | | | | put an end to his reign while he was still in his |
| striving for material wealth. But thanks to the likes | | | | sixties. Money cannot always secure good health |
| of Jane Fonda, the American fitness buff who | | | | much less procure longevity. Only the possession |
| helped to popularize the "keep fit" trend. There is | | | | of spiritual wealth will enable us attain and maintain |
| now an awareness of the health risks inherent in | | | | happiness, good health and success in life. |
| the sedentary life style engendered by | | | | In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus confirms |
| technological advancement. These days, being | | | | that there is a price to pay when we fail to make |
| healthy is not just about being free from sickness. | | | | acquiring spiritual wealth our first priority, (The |
| One has to be physically fit. Lots of people are | | | | Bible, Luke 12:13-21): |
| now adopting the proactive approach of | | | | "Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell |
| exercising regularly to maintain good health and | | | | my brother to divide the inheritance with me." |
| keep fit. Many have realized the need to actively | | | | Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or |
| pursue wealth of the physical kind. | | | | an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, |
| However, acquiring spiritual wealth is one goal | | | | "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of |
| most people cannot be said to be striving hard to | | | | greed; a man's life does not consist in the |
| attain. And to think that this ought to be our first | | | | abundance of his possessions." |
| priority. When someone gains spiritual wealth, they | | | | And he told them this parable: "The ground of a |
| are guaranteed to also gain material and physical | | | | certain rich man produced a good crop. He |
| wealth. If you have any reservations about this | | | | thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no |
| assertion, then listen to the wise counsel of one | | | | place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is |
| of the world's greatest spiritual luminaries, Jesus | | | | what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build |
| Christ of Nazareth: | | | | bigger ones, and there I will store all my grains |
| "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your | | | | and my goods. And I will say to myself, "You |
| life, what you will eat or drink, or about your | | | | have plenty of good things laid up for many |
| body, what you will wear. Is not life more | | | | years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' |
| important than food, and the body more | | | | But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night |
| important than clothes? Look at the birds of the | | | | your life will be demanded from you. Then who |
| air, they do not sow or reap or store away in | | | | will get what you have prepared for yourself?' |
| barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | | | | This is how it will be with anyone who stores up |
| Are you not much more valuable than they? Who | | | | things for himself but is not rich towards God." |
| of you by worrying can add a single hour to his | | | | If the reader is still not convinced of the wisdom |
| life? | | | | of striving for spiritual wealth, the statement I am |
| "And why do you worry about clothes? See how | | | | about to quote should settle the matter. It was |
| the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or | | | | made by someone who has chased after the |
| spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his | | | | material as well as the spiritual kind of wealth. |
| splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is | | | | Sir John Templeton is one of America's most |
| how God clothes the grass of the field, which is | | | | successful financial investors. He is reputed to |
| here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, | | | | have created some of the world's largest and |
| will he not much more clothe you, O you of little | | | | most successful international investment funds. |
| faith? So do not worry saying, 'What shall we | | | | Later, he sold his various Templeton Funds to the |
| eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we | | | | Franklin Group for $440 million. Now in his nineties, |
| wear?' For the pagans run after these things, and | | | | he is a full time philanthropist. Through the John |
| your heavenly Father knows that you need them. | | | | Templeton Foundation, which he established, he |
| But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, | | | | gives away about $40 million a year to funding |
| and all these things will be given to you as well." | | | | work aimed at discovering and advancing scientific |
| (The Bible, Mathew 6:25-33). | | | | knowledge about the spiritual aspect of life. For his |
| But what is there to lose if someone chooses not | | | | many accomplishments, he was knighted Sir John |
| to bother with the pursuit of spiritual wealth? The | | | | by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987. |
| answer to this question can be found by taking a | | | | Here is what this extraordinary individual has to |
| close look at the lives of some prominent | | | | say about what the pursuit of spiritual wealth has |
| individuals. | | | | done to his life: "I focus on spiritual wealth now, |
| When it comes to fame and fortune, very few | | | | and I am busier, more enthusiastic, and more |
| people can match Michael Jackson. He rose so high | | | | joyful than I have ever been." |
| as a star that the tag, superstar was just not | | | | In terms of quality of life, we all want the best |
| good enough and so he was dubbed, megastar. | | | | for ourselves and total wealth is the very best |
| The singer undoubtedly raked in fabulous amounts | | | | that life has to offer us. Be wise, strive for it. |