In this money-centered society where material desires overflow, people all think that having money means having everything. In order to live a better life, they all try their best to earn money. And I was no exception. To make more money, I worked hard every day and lived a nine to five life automatically, which made me feel exhausted physically and mentally. Even if I fell ill sometimes, I didn’t see a doctor until I could hardly bear it. When I met difficulties or was unfairly treated at work, I would endure that all the time. It seemed that all my grievances would be gone, as long as I made more and more money. To increase my savings faster, I began to use underhand means to snatch customers from my colleagues: I always said to the customers something that built up myself and belittled others to win their trust. And I leant to curry favor with my boss and flatter the leaders, so that they would give me more money-making opportunities. But when I saw that some of my pretty colleagues, by bartering away their “charm” and dignity, got a lot of money without laboring and enjoyed a noble life, such as wearing name brand clothes, carrying designer bags, driving famous cars and so on, I complained that I was not beautiful enough. But on second thought, I changed my mind, thinking, “Although I’m not so beautiful, I can make money through other means.” Therefore, as long as learning that there were ways to make money fast, I would have a try, and I even racked my brains and paid a high price for it without hesitation. So, when I heard that buying lottery tickets was “a sprat to catch a mackerel” and that the more you bought, the more you would earn, a strong desire to make a big money overwhelmed me immediately. I chose to buy it unhesitatingly, and held the newspaper in hands to study the lottery every day. However, though I exhausted myself with it, I still lost all eventually. When I saw my colleagues or friends get dressed gorgeously and coquettishly and enjoy their luxurious material life, I felt unfair: I am working so hard to make money! Why can’t I be like them? Thus, I, unwilling to be lag behind, often lived in misery and didn’t know what to do.
Later, I accepted the end-time gospel of God and saw the words He expresses: “What are mankind’s methods and laws for living? What principles are they rooted in? What are they based on? Mankind’s methods, laws, and so on as they relate to the way to live—all of this is created on the basis of Satan’s logic, knowledge, and philosophy. Humans living under these types of laws have no humanity, no truth—they all defy the truth and are hostile to God” (“God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself III” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). “His entire life is one of anguish and rushing about, of fun added to emptiness; in his whole life there are no new inventions and creations. No one is able to extricate themselves from this hollow life, no one has ever discovered a life of meaning, and no one has ever experienced a real life” (The Word Appears in the Flesh). The words of God enlightened me that the reason why man lives a painful and hopeless life is that man has been living under the snare of Satan. Their life styles and rules of living are based on Satan’s logic, knowledge, and philosophy. For example, Satan poisons man with wrong rules of living, such as “Life is just about eating and dressing,” “Money makes the mare go,” “Money isn’t everything but without money you have nothing,” and “Money is a magic key. Where there is money, there is a way,” so that man’s eyes have been blinded by these philosophies of Satan, and their thoughts, morality, and outlook on life have also been trampled and corrupted. These satanic living laws drive us to follow the evil trends of the world; for that reason, our thoughts are depraved and morals perish, and we stray from and betray God step by step and finally live in agony. God has revealed the true situation of our human life so thoroughly! Looking back on my past, in order to get more money and enjoy a better material life, I had been busy and bustling and full of grief all the time, and I had never felt really happy in the deep of my heart. For the sake of money, I either struggled with others, or attempted to please my boss and leaders, or envied others for a high salary, pretty appearance, and making money easily…. I simply knew nothing about what a meaningful life is! God’s words not only reveal our sad and empty life, but also help me find the root of my miserable life.
Then, what is the meaningful thing for a man to pursue in his life? God’s words show us the way. God says, “If one views life as an opportunity to experience the Creator’s sovereignty and come to know His authority, if one sees one’s life as a rare chance to perform one’s duty as a created human being and to complete one’s mission, then one will surely have the correct outlook on life, will surely live a life blessed and guided by the Creator, will surely walk in the light of the Creator, will surely know the Creator’s sovereignty, will surely come under His dominion, and surely become a witness to His miraculous deeds, a witness to His authority” (“God Himself, the Unique III” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). God’s words show me the direction of my life, making me realize that the value and meaning of man’s living is to spend their whole life pursuing the knowledge of the Creator and His authority, experiencing His sovereignty, and fulfilling the duty of a created being, so as to finally come under the Creator’s dominion and become a witness to His miraculous deeds! This is the most valuable and meaningful life.
Now, my life is not what it was before. Every day, I learn lessons from people, events, and things arranged by the Creator to experience His authority and know His wonderfulness and wisdom, feeling that I’m face to face with God. I truly taste the feeling of returning to the Creator, no longer feeling bewildered and helpless, no longer drifting around, and no longer being seduced by money and materials. Instead, I have a correct outlook of life and know how to treat money and materials properly. My heart is incomparably released. All the glory be to God!
