Jackpot Winner
The Lottery. A system that feeds off of our greed, dreams, desires, and ambitions. If I won the lottery, I could give millions to the church and rescue poor children from poverty. Many of us think that way, don't we? So, one day I asked myself, "If I played the lottery and won, would I be willing to give it all way?" I thought long and hard about it. Maybe after I paid off all my debt. Or maybe after I paid off all my debt and set up savings accounts for my children. What would I really do with all that money? Do I really believe that all I have belongs to God? Or am I seeking riches, not to do God's will, but to satisfy my own selfish desires?
One day my husband told me we should buy a ticket because the jackpot was huge. Every couple of years, we might do this, but I finally said to him, I don't want to win it. I don't even want to have the chance of winning it for fear I might. A confused look accompanied by an eye roll shot in my direction. "Seriously?" he questioned. "Seriously. I don't want that responsibility or curse. I don't need that kind of trouble."
He was confused, so I explained. "I don't want to be rich. I don't want people coming after me. I don't want a target on my back. I don't want the burden of unreasonable wealth." He's never asked me to buy a ticket again, and we probably never will until we die.
The Bible doesn't say that playing the lottery is a sin. But I do believe it is very unwise. The devil is a gifted deceiver. It is what he does best. People equate enormous wealth with the best possible life, because we believe money can give us everything we want. Yet, lottery winners often end up dead and bankrupt. I'm fairly certain that wasn't the future lottery winners had in mind.
The devil doesn't keep his promises and he doesn't want what is best for you. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The devil is out to get me - and you. He's always looking for a way to tempt, lure, and kill. He promises great things, but delivers death and adversity. So, before you buy that next lotto ticket, ask yourself, do you really want to 'win'?
He was confused, so I explained. "I don't want to be rich. I don't want people coming after me. I don't want a target on my back. I don't want the burden of unreasonable wealth." He's never asked me to buy a ticket again, and we probably never will until we die.
The Bible doesn't say that playing the lottery is a sin. But I do believe it is very unwise. The devil is a gifted deceiver. It is what he does best. People equate enormous wealth with the best possible life, because we believe money can give us everything we want. Yet, lottery winners often end up dead and bankrupt. I'm fairly certain that wasn't the future lottery winners had in mind.
The devil doesn't keep his promises and he doesn't want what is best for you. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The devil is out to get me - and you. He's always looking for a way to tempt, lure, and kill. He promises great things, but delivers death and adversity. So, before you buy that next lotto ticket, ask yourself, do you really want to 'win'?
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