One’s life does not consist of possessions. One’s life does not consist of possessions.
We all need the essential things for life, but our human experience continues to remind us incessantly what Jesus, a long time ago already told us in the Gospel: The accumulation of wealth does not give happiness! The joy of living does not depend on full barns or bank accounts. The quality of life and its joy depend rather on the measure of our love for God and our brothers, and also for our generous sharing with others what the Lord has given us.
This reflection is also found in the first reading, (Ecc 1:2, 2:21-23): where the Qohelet asks: What will remain at the end of our life? This biblical text reminds us that only human possessions and efforts do not guarantee happiness.’
And then, do we have to disregard material things to think only of those in heaven? In no way, seeking a decent life for our family is a right and an obligation. But without forgetting that, in this life, we are passing through and that our heart, our efforts, our whole being, cannot be focused solely on accumulating things for ourselves without sharing. Remember that living to work is not the same as working to live.