We should be happy, right?

We should definitely be happy, right? Money buys happiness, right? Maybe it's spending money that's happiness. And, wow, we spent it. Boats, big cars, cigarettes (what's this, $5 a pack now? Glad we started that habit -- showed mom and dad, didn't we!), big houses, lots of toys at Christmas. Spare no expense! We spent not only everything we had, but then some. We're definitely happy. Aren't we? Why are we not happy? We should be. Spending money makes us happy. We spent it! ALL OF IT! WHY ARE WE NOT HAPPY?!?

We've all heard "money can't buy happiness" but I've heard from even my church friends that while that's true "it can buy you options," or "it gives you freedom." No, money gives no freedom. Freedom is a whole 'nuther concept that we're getting pretty rusty on, quite frankly.

Look, the more money you have, the more you worry about losing it, about blowing it; what are the banks doing with it? Am I maximizing my returns? Will I be the fool who blew $5 million because he didn't have a plan? Did I invest it properly?

Now, if you have a good plan and you have a lot of money, bully for you. For most people though, too much money is a concept we'll never embrace. So, answer me this: Is there a lot of freedom in being broke? Well, yes, actually. I didn't say "in being in debt" and I don't mean not having a job and living on welfare. Have a job, save sensibly, buy sensibly and if at the end of the week you don't have cash-on-hand don't spend on credit. You don't deserve it. If you deserved it, you'd have it. I'm not saying you didn't work really hard, I'm not even saying that you didn't catch a tough break that cost you half of your paycheck.

Besides if you are broke and not in debt and not too worried about it, then you are probably trusting God and that's a good thing. You know that freedom concept? That's where you pin it, dude. Oh, and you cannot possibly be broke if you rely on God. Broke is not a monetary concept. That's why you are not happy after you've spent all the money.

Look around you. Are you happy with your financial situation? Are your friends happy with theirs? For the people I know that lead churches or other large groups of people, there is never a better time than the outskirts of a recession (or what may be one) to drive home the point that money doesn't buy happiness. "Here," says the preacher, "I offer proof: Your Life!"

Not tithing at church didn't save you enough money to be able to buy the things that, finally, after all these years, made you happy. In reality, not tithing at church gave you 10% more to spend but you really spent 20% more, which was 10% more than you actually had. And now, as my pastor says, you are tithing to the credit card company instead. Who's your God? Don't just say it. Prove it. Whose name is in that online-bill-pay account, your church or Visa?

So, while we hear "money can't buy happiness" all the time, if this recession shakes out, we'll soon find out. In the end, I think we might find not having so much money to over-spend might make us happy after all.