"Money"

If you won a large sum of money, what would you do? I am not advocating playing a lottery or some type of experiment with gambling but have you ever dreamed about winning perhaps half a million dollars or more and what you would do with those winnings?

Have you ever heard or read about those who do win the lottery? Here are a few examples of some of the big winners: Ken Proxmire was a machinist when he won one million dollars in the Michigan lottery. He moved to California, went into the car business with his brothers and in five years, filed for bankruptcy. Willie Hurt of Lansing, Michigan won $3.1 million in 1989. Two years later he was broke and charged with murder. Missourian Janite Lee won $18 million in 1993. Eight years later she filed for bankruptcy and had $700 to her name. William Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988 but now lives totally on his Social Security check of $450 a month. Evelyn Adams of New Jersey won the state lottery not once, but twice in 1985 and 1986. Her winnings totaled $5.4 million dollars. In 2004 the money was all gone and she was living in a trailer. Adams is quoted as saying, "I won the American dream, but I lost it, too." William Post said, "I wish it never happened. It was a total nightmare."

Many people often think and dream of hitting something big so they could have a lot of money to be set for life. But is that really what makes one happy? "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (I Tim. 6:9-10). The Lord knows that those desiring riches find many snares, foolish and harmful desires that will ruin your life. In fact, it will actually lead one away from the Lord!

What does the Lord expect? For us to labor with our own hands so that we will have something to share with others who are in need (Eph. 4:28). That's the very heart of the spirit of Christianity. There is nothing more satisfying than to work with your hands, gain from your labors and able to share that with others in times of need. There is something rewarding and satisfying to that. Solomon, the richest man to live on this earth, said it well in the wisdom God gave him: "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase." (Eccl. 5:10-11)

No wonder we are told from God's word that "...if anyone is not willing to work, then his is not to eat either."(II Thes. 3:10). There are great blessings gained when we just do things the way the Lord intended and stay away from quick fixes!