Does money really buy happiness?

I read a devotional this morning and it mentioned a family from Ecuador.  The devotional was talking about the difference for people in impoverished situations and those in circumstances of wealth.  And it just struck such a cord with me.  Some people, living on less than $2 a day are more happy than most of the people living in America.  They don't care that their roof is leaking or that their floors are made of dirt.  They are thankful having their family surrounding them and knowing that Christ loves them.  Talk about true faith.  These kids living in situations like that aren't jealous of what their neighbors have or aren't angry that they didn't get a new computer or a DS for Christmas.  These kids really understand something that most adults in America don't understand. 

What if one day all of your possessions would be taken away form you, would you still love and lean on the Lord as much as you do today?  Would you really give up all you had to follow Jesus as the disciples did? That's such a tough question to answer.  As much as I want to say without a shadow of a doubt that I would give it all up it would be hard.  I would really have to completely rely and lean on the Lord in a situation like that.  This year I am falling in love with Jesus all over again, and it feels great.  I can sit here knowing how much He loves each of us and how He has such a desire for us to know Him and to seek Him.  I look forward to continually seeking and understand God and His Word.

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." Proverbs 13:7 (NIV)