If you have been reading my column for some time, perhaps you have already discovered that I enjoy addressing issues that deal with the practical aspects of life – things that are common to most people. In today’s edition, I want to present and briefly discuss five things that are more important to wholesome and productive living than money, possessions, or material wealth. Each of these intangibles are a part of the recipe of a good life.

A Close-knit Family
In the opinion of most people who are practical and sensible in their perspective and philosophical idea of what constitutes a good life is the blessing and benefit that belonging to a close-knit family affords them. I believe that of all the things I had growing up that gave me an advantage, as a poor African-American boy, in the rural South during Jim Crow, was a close-knit family. What we lacked by way of material possessions and modern and elaborate comforts were more than compensated for by the bond that we had as a family. This was especially true when it came to my brothers and me. Like the fictional Three Musketeers, we were one for all and all for one! Our comradery and commonality as a band of brothers, who were integral in the drama and experiences of one another’s upbringing, has contributed immensely to who we are as adults today. Most of the people I know who came from close-knit families have, like my siblings and me, greatly benefitted from being a part of such a clan. If asked, they would gladly tell you that being a part of such a functional family, where affection and comradery were evident and demonstrated, was certainly an important ingredient to who they are today.

Honest and Trusted Friends
The subject of friendship is something that I have written about in my column either directly or indirectly for quite a few times. In my experience and estimation, friendship is an indispensable ingredient in the recipe for a good and productive life. There are different levels of friends in perhaps all of our lives who we will not consider in this column today. Our focus in this writing is to highlight those exceptional and special friends who are honest and trustworthy. They are that rare breed of intimate friends who you can depend on when your back is against the wall. They are confidants who will never divulge things that were told to them in confidence. If a person can count on one hand his friends who are truly honest and trustworthy, he is rich indeed to have these invaluable friendships that are more precious than gold.

Good Health
It is said that the average person spends the first half of their life accumulating wealth and the second half of their life is spent using their wealth to get back their health. I have read about and heard of very wealthy people, who had amassed millions of dollars and who were dying due to a terminal disease, who would have gladly traded in their wealth for good health and a chance to extend their life. At the end of the day when one’s life is on the line, no amount of money is worth one’s health. Being rich can give one many advantages and can afford one the best medical care that money can buy. However, there are times when sicknesses are incurable and beyond man’s medical or scientific ability to remedy. It is during times like these when we all appreciate health and realize that good health is invaluable – more precious than gold.

A Good Name
“A good name is better than precious ointment…” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). In order to understand the correlation of a good name to that of precious ointment, we must first know the value of precious ointment in ancient times. Another term for precious ointment in the Scriptures was myrrh; it was more valuable than gold by many historical accounts. Myrrh was one of the three costly gifts that the wise men presented to the Infant Christ Child, along with gold and frankincense. When I use the term “good name”, I am speaking in regards to the character and reputation behind the name. A person of ill repute is a shady character with a bad name. I am sold on the fact that a good name is an invaluable possession. It is truly more precious than gold.

Eternal Life
Well, if you know anything about me through reading my column, you probably could have predicted or at least anticipated that I could not consider a subject like we are discussing without including the issue of eternal life. Everything else that we have considered is extremely minute and very insignificant when weighed on the scale with eternal life.
To have the promise and security of living eternally without the evils and troubles that we all must contend with in this natural world is certainly invaluable and is more precious than gold. In the Scriptures, it is referred to as “The Blessed Hope.” This hope or expectation of the return of Jesus Christ, to this earth to settle all disputes and bring a true and lasting peace, is for what all of us who are true believers pray and long. In an age, when wickedness and darkness seem to be descending and speeding over the entire earth and when even places that are houses of worship and institutions of learning for children are being violated and seized by terrorist and killers, it is good to know that a day is dawning when men shall beat their swords into plowshares and crime and war shall be no more.
I consider myself and all who have passed from death to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ to be the richest people alive with an invaluable treasure more precious than gold.