In case you haven’t heard the news around the water cooler the past couple of days, the jackpot for the Mega Million Lottery has risen to a record $1.6 billion and the drawing is tonight.
Despite the daunting 1-in-302-million odds of winning, people will be queueing up at their favorite lottery outlet today to buy a ticket. Afterwards, they’ll be kibitzing enthusiastically with their friends, family, co-workers, and even total strangers about all of the things they are going to do and buy with that $1.6 billion (actually only $904 million after Uncle Sam takes his share).
I have a few thoughts:
- Jesus Christ offers eternal life and fellowship with God to all those who repent of their sin and accept Him as their Savior by faith alone. There’s no comparison between eternal life in Christ and $904 million dollars. So why do people line up for a microscopic chance at winning the lottery, but reject Jesus Christ who offers so much more? Unlike the lottery’s microscopic odds, every single person who accepts Christ is sure of a place at God’s table.
- Researchers report that 70% of big ticket lottery winners declare bankruptcy within five years. Why is that? They’re not able to discipline their spending habits after the sudden, huge windfall and they’re not able to say no to their suddenly-huge circle of family and “friends.” Also, many lottery winners end up with costly addictions such as drugs or gambling. Rather than solving all of their problems, the vast majority of lottery winners find that the prize money creates bigger problems for them than they ever had.
- The Bible says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get to Heaven. What is meant by that? Wealthy people become self-reliant and confident in themselves. With all of that “success,” it’s very difficult for them to see themselves as lowly, desperate sinners in need of the Savior.
I won’t be joining the line to buy a Mega ticket today. Don’t want one. Don’t need one. I’m not rich according to the standards of this world, but I have a Father who owns every hill and every valley. Thank you, Jesus!
“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” – Proverbs 30:7-9
Thanks Tom, for expressing my feelings exactly. Such money has such potential for multiple snares! Even Christians say, “If I won that money, I’d do such&such for the Lord” to which I say, “Do it now! Let God provide and get the glory!”
Press on brother.
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Thanks, Lisa Beth! Yes, there are ample examples of lottery windfalls turning people’s lives upside down in a bad way.
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You know, Arkansas started a lottery back some years. It’s the “scholarship lottery.” Personally, I think it only makes money for those who administrate the lottery. Not sure how many kids have actually gone to college because of the lottery. Now, in this upcoming November election, there is an amendment on the ballot that would legalize casino-style gambling on 5 counties. It;s already legal in a couple of surrounding states, so that is how the supporter are drumming up support, is by saying we could keep that money in our own state. One of the counties is Jefferson County, just north of us. The largest City is Pine Bluff, which per capita already has one of the highest crime rates in the nation. Sure, let’s toss some Casino’s in the mix.
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Thanks, Wally. I know I’ve shared with you in the past how bad the economy is here in Western New York after all the manufacturing plants shut down or moved out. The only new construction going on here in WNY are medical buildings (for all of us aging baby boomers), college expansion (although grads can’t get jobs here), fitness gyms (the new church), and casinos.
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I did not know New York had casinos.
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Oh, yeah. All over the place. The first one was at Niagara Falls but many now. All owned by Native American tribes.
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Ah, yeah like the ones in Oklahoma.
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Yeah, I imagine the Native Americans are able to cut through much of the federal red tape by building casinos on their reservations. Many of the horse racetracks around here also have small casinos on their property.
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It has something to do with their treaty status as basically being sovereign. I don’t fully understand it, but that’s the deal.
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Very well said brother. It is a shame that so many government entities promote gambling. As you point out, there is only one way to God.
Blessings.
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Thanks, brother! Yes, “paradise” for unbelievers would be winning this 1.6 billion, but we know it’s an empty shell.
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A few thoughts that come to mind:
The pursuit of quick riches lead surely to poverty. -Proverbs 28:22
Richer is the poorest man with Christ Jesus than the wealthiest man without Him.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. -Proverbs 18:11
I’m from Illinois and we are worse off financially now than from before the lottery came about as a means of supplimental funding of education. It has not kept the taxes low. Only greed and envy has prospered and that means there is never enough…never.
I will play once in a while if it is for causes like breast cancer, AIDS and MS. I feel I can’t lose then.
Great post, Tom! Have a blessed day! \o/
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Thanks for the relevant verses and good comments, Sherry! Thanks and have a blessed day in the Lord, also!
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Totally agree.. and Amen to your few thoughts .
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Thank you, Crissy! What indescribable riches we have in Christ Jesus!
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Praise God!
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Excellent post, I didn’t know the jackpot is that much right now! But then again I don’t pay attention to these things. Your post reveal clearly that money as an idol even when one has it will end up never satisfying…I hope this post will be used by the Lord evangelistically for those who are looking up about the lotto!
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Thanks, Jimmy! Yup, the idolatry of money represented by the lottery is undeniable. Thanks for the good comments!
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Its crazy how some can lose so much to get such a small chance of possibility of winning
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Yeah, years ago I used to often stop at 7-11s and “Mom & Pop” stores and people were always laying down $20 for lotto and rub-offs. There were certain people at Kodak who went to the area casinos all the time. Definitely an addiction.
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Wow crazy. 20 dollars is a lot in my book, it is now and even more so back then!
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Tom, great! People need this message.
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Thanks, Maria! Yes, people are chasing after emptiness.
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yes, brother! So so sad!
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I didn’t buy one either…wouldn’t want to risk what could happen if I won. I want nothing to take me away from Jesus. I spent the past 2 nights at a casino hotel for a training I had to do for my current job. I’m selling funeral insurance…Funeral Pre-Need Sales. Our 2-day class was held in that hotel. Anyway, my old self would have really enjoyed hanging out in the casino after class. Spending money I don’t have, drinking free drinks, playing poker or slot machines…all that used to sound like fun. New Jackie walked right past it and was thankful for her new joys. I won’t say the thought didn’t occur to me because it did, but as it did I felt the anxiety of my “old life” trying to seduce me and I didn’t want any part of it. Freedom in Christ and learning to depend on Him is so much more than I ever imagined. True joy is knowing I am His and He will sustain me. I don’t want the old me ever again…the old has passed away I am a new creation in Christ and He has given me new desires.
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Thanks for the good comments, Jackie! Yup, my flesh desired that lottery jackpot for a minute or two but I also knew it would be sheer calamity in my life. I said a prayer for the winner in South Carolina.
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I hadn’t heard that anyone won. My prayers for the winner as well. I hope he/she knows the Lord. If not, may He use this for good and to bring about their salvation.
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Amen!
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Hi brother I don’t care about the jackpot don’t like it and we believers have Jesus as our Savior and Lord so we don’t need the jackpot the sinful world offers but people want it.
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Amen, brother! Yes, buying a mega ticket would be inviting idolatrous disaster into my life.
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Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
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Thanks for the reblog, brother!
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