Kerby Anderson

Sixteen years ago, I wrote the book, Making the Most of Your Money in Tough Times. I tried to cover all the important issues connected with money, including a chapter on materialism and consumerism. But it didn’t occur to me to write about the group of Americans now referred to as the HENRYs.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, many Americans qualify as HENRY, which stands for high earner, not rich yet. These are people who have incomes in the hundreds of thousands who still are living paycheck to paycheck.

These HENRYs “describe feeling stuck on a hamster wheel—a nice one that other hamsters envy—but running in place nonetheless.” Of course, the natural reaction is: “You’re asking me to feel sympathy for Audi-driving, Chase Sapphire-loving, Whole Foods-shopping consultant types with kids in private school?”

Maybe not. But HENRYs represent at the high end, what most Americans are feeling. This is the growing “gap between what you have and what you feel you need to be comfortable.” Their anxiety illustrates two theological principles.

First, most Americans lack contentment. Paul explained that he has “learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). We are seeking happiness, which is often elusive. Our discontentment arises from trying to fill a “God-shaped vacuum” in our soul with material goods.

Second, this discontentment is connected to a lack of meaning and identity. We need purpose, or more accurately, we need to follow God’s calling in our lives. Paul says he was going to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Too many Americans are looking for meaning, identity, and happiness in the wrong places and need to find contentment.