George Pullman began his business life working as a cabinetmaker in a carpenter shop. It was during the early days of train travel, and train travel was a tiresome, dirty business. Day and night the travelers sat wearily in their seats, jostled and shaken on the rough train tracks, and with never a place or way to rest or relax.
George Pullman put his cabinet-making skill and his inventive mind to work and designed the first sleeping car. It had seats that could be made into beds at night, curtains that could be pulled for privacy and—eventually—also parlor cars and diners. Travel became a very different thing from those hard early years, and Pullman prospered accordingly.
As the “Pullman Palace Car Company” grew and became rich and powerful, so did Pullman. Nearing the end of his life, possessing millions of dollars, a reporter was sent to interview him. This is the statement he made: “I believe I am no better off, certainly no happier, than I was when I did not have a dollar to my name and had to work hard from daylight to dark. I had only one good suit of clothing then, and I can only wear one now. I relished three meals a day then a great deal more than I enjoy my three meals a day now. I had fewer cares; I slept better, and I may add that, generally, I believe I was far happier in those days than I have been on many days since I became a millionaire. And yet,” he added, “it is a comfortable feeling to be rich.”
According to the millionaire’s confession, the possession of wealth did not increase his happiness. When he worked hard in the carpenter’s shop from daylight to dark he was “far happier.” His sleep was sweeter, his cares fewer and his appetite better. Even though now a millionaire, he could wear only one suit of clothes at a time and was unable to eat more than three good meals a day.
What advantages did he claim to possess that he did not have when he worked for his daily bread in his shirt sleeves?
“And yet it is a comfortable feeling to be rich.” The “comfortable feeling” Mr. Pullman attained did not relieve him from worry and care. It did not guarantee him refreshing sleep, nor did it lead to an improved appetite. “I am no better off, certainly no happier, than I was when I did not have a dollar to my name.”
It is a common belief that the possession of wealth brings happiness. What a mistake! With increased wealth comes increased cares, and with increased cares increased trouble. It is a wicked delusion that the human soul can be satisfied with material prosperity.
A rich farmer spoken of by the Lord Jesus addressed his soul in the following words: “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:1919And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (Luke 12:19)). The soul, however, cannot be silenced in that way. Eating and drinking may satisfy animals, but they cannot satisfy the longings of an immortal spirit. Neither wealth, pleasure nor fame can quench the soul’s thirst.
Listen to the testimony of King Solomon: “Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-1110And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. 11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10‑11)).
Solomon had all that this world could give, but his testimony was that there was no profit “under the sun.” Love and life and lasting joy can only be found in Him who once died for us on Calvary and who is now enthroned in the glory.