Why it is a simple principle that many beliefs and wise philosophies have. This life which is based on making this world the most important thing in the sense of building your empire and riches will not make you truly happen. Many people say this. They also say you cant take it with you so why build castles when you can live for the now and be happy. Why spend so much time and energy making money to get things if it kills you to do it. We tend to kill ourselves to achieve the status we think is important to make us happy and then find it wasn't the answer in the end. But this is how this world is geared to be driven to live this way. Because secular society believes this is all we have they then waste so much time driving themselves to get things and build these great comfortable lives only to have a heart attack because of the stress and strain to do it. Many say it is better to have love and health than make money and things the more important.
If you work hard to get things and build your empire what happens if you die before you enjoy it. What about those many stories of people who say they placed all the importance in money and materialism only to find it wasn't the answer and it didn't make them truly happy. What about those who get rich and money destroys their lives. You hear this time and time again. The Hollywood fairly tale is just that. They profess to live this perfect happy life with all the glitz and money but they are more unhappy than anyone behind the scenes. Always braking up and unhappy and going from one misguided thing to another.
They say the true happiness doesn't come from the things that this world says is happiness like flash cars or big houses or money and materialism but the simple things like love and health and having each other. Being able to be happy with self and who you are not what you have. All this is the very same principle that you dont have to go along with how this world does things to be truly happy. The most happy people dont have to have a lot and work on the non material things to be truly content. In fact surveys show that religious belief can make a person happier and content compared to the worry of conforming to the stresses of secular society.
So if i dont believe in God then this life is all there is. So it will be the most important and it is only for 60 or 70 years and that can go fast. That is it no more so we have to make the most of it. But if you believe in God then this life is just a blink in eternity and so it is not as important because i have forever in another life. But part of belief in God is about sacrifice and loving and helping others and putting others first as well. Its about doing gods will which wont always be what i want with its selfish desires. So Christians can seem like they are missing out but really what they receive in return for this commitment is a greater joy and serenity that this world cant give.
Jesus says he gives us peace but not as the world gives it.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The bible says we should store up our riches in heaven not on earth.
Matthew 6:19
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
