In both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures, we find this basic truth: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3) The Bible puts the emphasis where it belongs​—on spiritual values. Giving a fundamental prerequisite for happiness, it states: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.”​—Matt. 5:3.

Man has proved incapable of filling such spiritual need. By making technology and materialistic goals his top priority, he has come face to face with a crisis summed up as follows: “For all his intelligence, man behaves in communities with a thoughtlessness for his environment that is potentially suicidal. It is debatable, then, whether technology is a blessing or a bane [cause of distress, death, or ruin]. The history of technology has led from the earliest technological achievements of man the toolmaker to the crossroads at which the species now stands, in the last third of the 20th century, confronted by a choice, that of self-destruction or a millennium of adventurous growth and expansion.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica.

A Millennium of True Prosperity

The Bible not only supplies here and now the spiritual values that are the primary ingredient for happiness but also gives a wonderful hope of a millennium of peace, justice and material prosperity right here on earth. (See page 13.) Well over two million Jehovah’s Witnesses living in 205 countries whose governments represent the whole gamut of economic and political systems​—from capitalism to communism—​have found immediate happiness by the practical application of the Bible’s moral values, while placing their hope of peace and justice in God’s sure promise of a new order.​—2 Pet. 3:13.

In the past, many who are now Jehovah’s Witnesses had put their faith in the political and economic systems invented by men, or thought something could be done to reform them. Some were ardent believers in capitalist free enterprise. Others thought welfare-state socialism would solve mankind’s problems. Still others were militant communists. One of these latter, living in France, writes: “I believed that all working-class people could attain material happiness by practicing Marxism. For about 12 years I was an active member of the Communist Party. I sold L’Humanité [a French communist newspaper] on the streets and pasted propaganda posters on walls late at night. I was very much convinced that communism was the only way to put an end to the exploitation of man by man. But eventually, I became tired of the Party. We were always the same few to be asked to do the work. The rest just bought the Party Card.”

Explaining why he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he adds: “The Witnesses were able to answer all my questions. I realized that God’s promises were more realistic than those of the Communist Party. I was overjoyed to meet with kind people who really loved one another. I now learned that the paradise I had hoped to see through communism would come through God’s kingdom.”

Other Witnesses have learned the hard way that material prosperity definitely is not enough to bring happiness. They have experienced the truthfulness of this Bible axiom: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things.” (1 Tim. 6:10) This has proved to be true of both rich and poor. Whatever their social level may be, Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the Biblical counsel that says: “Train yourself spiritually. . . . the usefulness of spirituality is unlimited, since it holds out the reward of life here and now and of the future life as well.”​—1 Tim. 4:7, 8, The Jerusalem Bible.

The “future life” that the Bible offers on a paradise earth is an eternity of spiritual and material prosperity, an eternity of life in happiness for those who prove faithful to the “happy God,” Jehovah. (1 Tim. 1:11; Rev. 21:1-5) This is a hope that neither capitalism, communism nor socialism can dare to offer.

SPIRITUAL VALUES ABOVE MATERIAL PROSPERITY:

“Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain . . . Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.”​—Prov. 3:13-18.

GREED CONDEMNED:

“Woe to the ones joining house to house, and those who annex field to field until there is no more room.”​—Isa. 5:8.

“Incline my heart to your reminders, and not to profits.”​—Ps. 119:36.

WARNING AGAINST MATERIALISM:

“Men who set their hearts on being wealthy expose themselves to temptation. They fall into a trap . . . For loving money leads to all kinds of evil.”​—1 Tim. 6:9, 10, “Phillips,” Revised Edition.

“A person’s true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be.”​—Luke 12:15, “Today’s English Version.”

PROMISE OF A JUST NEW ORDER:

“We have his [God’s] promise, and look forward to new heavens and a new earth, the home of justice.”​—2 Pet. 3:13, “The New English Bible.”

THE END OF ALL OPPRESSION:

“The oppressor has reached his end; the despoiling has terminated; those trampling down others have been finished off the earth. And in loving-kindness a throne will certainly be firmly established; and one [Christ, the Messianic King] must sit down upon it in trueness in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and being prompt in righteousness.”​—Isa. 16:4, 5.

A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL ABUNDANCE:

“The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.”​—Isa. 11:9. “The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us.”​—Ps. 67:6.