I once encountered this salaryman. He had a modest job with decent pay, and his greatest treasure was his loving family. Coming from a poor background, his parents instilled in him lessons about human values.
One day, he met friends who introduced him to a quick investment opportunity, promising to double his salary. Tempted by their luxurious lives, he yearned for more than his humble beginnings. That night, he quietly contemplated the investment with his wife, his desire for wealth growing. A few days later, he secretly mortgaged his house, borrowed from his parents’ retirement fund, illegal money lenders, and close friends, amassing a large amount of capital for the “guaranteed” investment.
Initially, he reaped substantial profits, living the lavish life he craved and repaying some loans. He then borrowed more, dealing with underground lenders and banks, and manipulating his spouse, friends, business associates, parents, and in-laws with promises of returns. His money grew exponentially. Unfortunately, everything turned dark. The promised investment vanished, rumoured to be a money laundering and Ponzi scam under investigation. In a blink, it was all gone. The founders fled, the office was sealed, and assets were confiscated. He watched in panic.
Weeks later, things worsened. His wife discovered the secret house mortgage, and illegal lenders sent bullies to harass his family. His wife, outraged, left him; friends felt betrayed, and creditors hounded him for unpaid loans. He lost everything.
We humans often lose our values and guiding principles—compassion, love, respect, kindness, integrity, and dignity—to money. We tend to prioritise wealth, possessions, status, and physical appearance as our main sources of happiness, often at the expense of other vital values. Our lives are like blank storybooks. While our parents write the cover, we fill in the contents and determine the ending. Our stories are full of ups and downs, memories, and experiences. Regardless of wealth or poverty, all lives have imperfections. Therefore, we must learn to embrace empathy, practice gratitude, and cherish what we have. Only then can we find charm and comfort in life.
After all, we arrive in this world empty-handed, and we leave the same way. Money is merely a piece of paper with value; greed is its curse. Every human is born with a tendency towards greed, but we must not let it control our desires.
Christopher Khoo Teng Soo, Georgetown.
