Never Enought

    One of the saddest stories in American history is that of Howard Hughes. At age 45, he was one of the most powerful men in the world. He was a top aviation designer and pilot, he dated famous movie actress and had earned numerous awards for his movie ventures. He had billions of dollars and own vast empire of businesses that include a chain of hotels and even an airline. But as he aged, he had several mental breakdowns, and became a recluse. His life devolved into a pathetic existence. He sent most of his days watching the same movie endlessly. His hair and fingernails grew without ever begin trimmed. He became terrified of germs and locked himself in small rooms without human contact. His business empire fell apart because of his strange habits. When Hughes died from a heart condition, it was discovered that he had broken hypodermic needles lodged in his arm from constant drug abuse.

  How could an man that’s seemed to have everything, end up this way? Many have speculated but that Hughes metal breakdowns came from the fact that he could never achieve his goal to be the richest man in the world. Because the two families above him had inherited great family wealth, Hughes could never make enough money to surpass them. This perceived failure was something the noted perfectionist Howard Hughes could not deal with. All his wealth was not enough to make him feel as if he had succeeded.

  The apostle Paul had an answer to people like Hughes that never seem to have enough. In Philippians 4:11-13 he writes, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Paul knew that what we have is not as important as who we know. Those that have a relationship with God have strength because we trust that our true wealth is with God. No matter what situation we find ourselves we can be content in what God provides. That contentment is worth more than all the riches of the world.