It probably shouldn’t surprise us, but a recent study you may have seen reported suggests materialistic people might have more money, but they have less happiness. The study was done by researchers at Brigham Young University and involved more than 1,700 married couples. Couples who did not think money was important scored 15 percent higher than other couples in relationship stability and other positive relationship qualities.

The study was very bad news if both partners were materialistic. They had much higher levels of difficulty in issues such as communication, conflict management and responsiveness. Far from making a relationship secure, obsession with money produced much more conflict. In the final analysis, researchers concluded that attitude toward wealth was far more important than the actual amount of money a couple had.


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A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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The eminently quotable G.K. Chesterton had good insights on the subject of money. He once said, “The golden age only comes to men when they have forgotten gold.” He also is reported to have said, “To be clever enough to get a great deal of money, one must be stupid enough to want it.”


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

About The Author

A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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It should have been the opportunity of a lifetime for ex-con, Abraham Shakespeare. In 2006, he won $30 million in the Florida lottery. He didn’t think the money would change him. Just three years later, his body was found in the back yard of a friend’s home. While the friend has not been charged with Abraham’s murder, she was charged as an accessory.

People know how he spent much of his life. According to news accounts, he had been in juvenile hall as a teen, was arrested for assault, had children by different women, got behind on child support and went to jail. Police are patching together information as to how he spent his last three years. He handed out wads of cash, some of it in gigantic amounts–$250,000 to $1,000,000. He met a woman who claimed she wanted to write a book about his life. They got involved in financial dealings together. She ended up buying his mansion. He ended up buried in the back of her home. The last word has yet to be said about this strange case. 
We know enough now to ponder the fact that money not only cannot buy happiness; it can, if handled irresponsibly, cause gigantic troubles.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

About The Author

A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away all of his $4.7-million fortune. He said, “My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing. Money is counter productive—it prevents happiness to come.” He will sell his six gliders, his 42-acre estate in France and his luxury villa in the Alps. He plans to move into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a studio apartment in Innsbruck. In selling everything, he says, he felt free.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

About The Author

A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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