In Herodotus’ story Croesus and Solon, two characters compare material happiness with nonmaterial happiness and debate which is better. While Croesus argues for the temporal benefits of material happiness, Solon takes a more biblical standpoint and redefines happiness in terms of spiritual and mental blessings. He gives as his proof several examples of individuals who lived with little material goods yet died without a sorrow in the world.
The rich Croesus, who was the ruler of Lydia for fourteen years, was renowned for his wealth, and even today there exists the proverbial expression “rich as Croesus.” Despite all this, the wise man Solon instead deemed Tellus of Athens to be the happiest on this earth. This brave hero died an old man…show more content… Perhaps the best confirmation is found in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, which says, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” Indeed, living a righteous life is valued above all the comforts money can buy, and good deeds are worth more than richly abundant possessions. For earthly goods are of no eternal value and can only be stored up and eaten by moths, whereas spiritual goods last forever and are the decisive factor as to what happens in the life beyond this one. While we can improve our minds and better our souls and characters, collecting material goods benefits us in no way and can only make us more materialistic and less focused on the truly important things in life. Therefore, Solon’s view of happiness is the true and biblical one, and Croesus’ desire for the happiness of gold and of the world is merely a lust for short-term pleasures. While material blessings can be pleasant for the present, the intangible gifts are always the best, for they do not rot or destroy, and they will always remain with us if we cultivate them. Indeed, happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13), and blessed are we if we, like these men, search for lasting treasures, treasures that can be stored up in heaven for
