“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I often speak, write and teach about money.  I am a personal finance practitioner and most of my endeavors lead to the advocacy of financial freedom.

Money is definitely important… to have a financially prosperous life is a goal for people to have. However, our goal should not just end in financial prosperity but rather the fulfilment of the purpose of such prosperity. Money is a tool and its use dictates its morality.  Having money should not be the end goal and being happy because of the money shouldn’t also be the end goal.

Money is important. Being happy is important. However, I believe life is beyond that. Life has a purpose and finding that purpose is the key in our proverbial quest for true happiness.  Achieving financial freedom is merely a process that we need to go through and should not be the final destination, it is merely a tool.

When we set out our goals, do we know our ultimate purpose? When we plan our lives, do we see the end goal? These questions are simplistic and yet many people do not have the answers for such inquisitions– they go through life trying to find an answer to a question and yet they do not know what the question is.

What is the purpose behind our quest for financial freedom? Is it about convenience? Is it about security? Finding our purpose is the key to the many questions we ask – financial or otherwise.

For me, I know my ultimate purpose — it is to worship my creator.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

(Romans 8:28)