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Buck Owens has always been my favorite country singer. Throughout his career he had 21 number one songs, and 15 of those were consecutive hits. For 17 years he starred on the television show “Hee Haw,” from 1969 till 1986. In 1996 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also an astute business man, owning several radio stations and a record producing company. When he died in 2006 his total assets were worth one hundred million dollars. Yet, toward the end of his life Mr. Owens reportedly said, “You know, I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted and I’m still unhappy” (Buck Owens: The Biography, p. 303).
How can a person be that wealthy and that unhappy? The reason is because material possessions are not what makes a person truly happy. The lesson learned is that an individual may be able to purchase any material possession available to mankind; or he may already own everything he could possibly ever want; and yet still lie terribly unhappy in life. Such was tragically the case with Buck Owens.
Not until a person has obeyed the gospel of Christ and is living in harmony with God’s will on a daily basis will he or she ever have the true joy and contentment that satisfies the yearning of the soul. This happiness has nothing to do with wealth or material possessions. It has everything to do with knowing that one has submitted to the truth and thus has become a recipient of the forgiveness of one’s sins. Peter told those who came to believe the gospel, “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). This is how one obeys the gospel to become a Christian and member of the Lord’s church. Once the Eunuch confessed his faith in Jesus as the Son of God he was led down into the water and immersed for the remission of his sins. After coming up from the waters of baptism “he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). Notice it was after he had come up from the waters of baptism that he rejoiced, not before. It is no different today.
Don’t make the tragic mistake Buck Owens made. He died a miserable and pathetic man. True joy was never his. Allow him to teach us a valuable lesson pertaining to what true happiness is in life. This is what God wants us to have and freely offers it to everyone.
Stephen Wiggins
San Augustine Church of Christ
San Augustine, TX