Recently, I watched a show called “Squid Game” on Netflix. It was an excellent show. I am sure you have seen it or at least heard about it. There were nine episodes, and each one carried the thrill of waiting to see what might happen next. The show was a massive success worldwide, with statistics showing that it generated about $900 million in revenue for Netflix. The story featured a group of individuals facing the hardships of life, burdened by debt. They were cunningly lured by an agency, promising them a chance to take part in a series of games. If they succeeded, it was an incredible jackpot that could transform any participant into a billionaire in a single day.

Maybe you’ve felt this too—the pressure to earn more, to become more, to prove something to the world. People were crazy about joining the games, never knowing that if they lost, they would not return home but die there and be burned to ashes. The games were not complicated; they were simple childhood games, but failure resulted in sudden death. The players spent their nights without proper sleep, holding onto something for protection, fearing that others, even their friends, might kill them.

A considerable number of players were eliminated in every round. Despite all the killings, violence, pain, and arrogance, everybody wanted to win. They didn’t care if it was their wife, sister, cousin, or best friend. All they wanted was that huge jackpot. Even though there was an option to vote and stop the game and go back home, they still wanted to continue because of their love for money. That show may look extreme, but in many ways, it reflects the world we live in today.

“When money becomes the goal, people stop seeing others as people and start seeing them as obstacles.”

Today, money is an essential part of life. Without it, you cannot buy or sell. It is very important for life to run on this earth. Money has become a major measure of whether a person is respected or not. It plays a role in almost every aspect of life. Money often determines the kind of respect you receive in society. If you have more money, society—even your own family—may look at you with honor and dignity. But if you have less or no money, your respect can weaken, even among your own brothers and sisters.

“Money can buy attention, but it can never buy genuine respect.”

I have heard many stories about hidden gold. Recently, I watched an old movie called “Operation Condor,” acted by Jackie Chan, released in 1991. The concept of the movie is that Jackie is given a task to find gold hidden by the Germans in a desert during World War II. Along with two others, he goes through many hardships. The news spreads, and many people try to steal the map and keys they have. Finally, after all the struggle, they reach the gold. It shines so brightly that even as a viewer, I thought, “If only I could take one gold bar, I could settle my family and live a good life.”

But the movie does not end that way. Due to an error, the entire place goes into self-destruction, and everything collapses under the sand. All the gold is buried, and nobody takes anything. All those hardships, travels, fights, and risks end with nothing. Not just in movies, there are many real-life stories of people searching for treasure, especially gold, hidden in mountains, valleys, or under the sea. There are claims about Solomon’s gold, said to be so vast that it could fill a mountain. Some say it has been found, others say it has not. No one truly knows what happened to that wealth.

Even today, in the Philippines, people search for Japanese gold believed to be hidden during World War II. Some claim it exists and is worth trillions. Some say parts were found, others say it was hidden again. No one knows the truth. All of this shows how people are constantly chasing wealth and the life it promises. Money is no longer just a medium of exchange; it has become a measure of identity, success, and worth. It has become an obsession.

Today, the world is filled with schemes promising quick money. Digital currencies and online investments attract many people. Even though many have been scammed badly, people still continue because the desire for fast money has not left them. Some see it as a smart investment, while others lose everything overnight. Once lost, it disappears, and there is no way to recover it.

“The faster the promise of wealth, the deeper the risk of losing everything.”

The Bible clearly reminds us that the love of money is the root of all evil. And we can see how true that is today. People destroy lives, lose their morality, and go against God’s design for money. Some sell their bodies. Some take lives. Some compromise their values. The world even celebrates things that were once considered wrong. So the question is, is it bad to have money or to look for money? No, it is not. But when it becomes an obsession, it becomes dangerous. It is also important to understand how we earn money. The path we choose matters. God calls us to live a life that reflects His love.

Yes, we need money to live. Everything around us has a price. But when we spend our entire life chasing money, doing wrong things, or searching endlessly for wealth, we lose direction. The Bible reminds us that we cannot take anything with us when we die. We leave everything behind. That is the reality of life. I’ve seen moments in my own life where chasing something more almost made me lose what mattered most. The more we chase everything, the emptier we often become. So what is more valuable than money?

Love.

^{This image is a representation of love. Today, love is in demand but very little supply.}

Love is the center of everything. Today, people have time to earn money but less time to love. Love is in demand, but there is very little supply. Selfishness has taken over. We forget that love is what truly matters. Love for our family, love for others, and treating others as our own; isn’t that what God expects from us? Heaven will not measure you by how much money you earned. In fact, the Bible says it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, not because of money itself, but because of the love for it. God is love, and we are called to reflect that love.

Today, relationships are breaking. Families are drifting apart. Social media and fast-paced life are taking away meaningful connections. We are so busy chasing things that we forget why we were created. Jesus, when He lived on earth, did not go around making money. He went from place to place, sharing love, healing, and teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our purpose is not to make money our main goal. Money is God’s provision. He gives what we need. But the mission, sharing love, changing lives, is what truly matters. I have never seen someone who truly trusted God and followed His purpose be left without provision. God always sustains.

So as I end this, I want to remind you, my friend—love is all you need. God has already blessed you enough to live a life where you can show His love to others. People today need love. They need time, care, trust, and your presence.

“At the end of life, you won’t be remembered for what you earned—but for how you loved.”

Remember, if you don’t have love, you have nothing. So I encourage you today, love more. Care more. Spend time with people. In doing that, you are not just living, but you are fulfilling the very purpose God created you for.