WINNERS AND LOSERS

            A $650 million plus mega ball lottery has been in the news recently.  There were three winners with tickets worth more than 200 million each.  But what impressed me was that there were over 100 million losers.  And that was just that one week.  I have no idea how many other losers there were in the weeks while the jackpot grew.

            Annalists tell us that the losers are primarily from the lowest economic level of our society.  Some of the poorest among us spend the most on lottery tickets.  The allure of a chance to “strike it rich” is very strong.  Television interviews explored the dreams of those buying the tickets, what they would do with the prize money.

            I can sympathize with them.  It would be nice to have all the money you could ever need.  But how much do we really need?  Paul in his first letter to Timothy gives us a warning, "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptations and a snare..." (1 Timothy 6:8)
            The problem is that our lifestyles have been so abundant, if not outright lavish, few of us would be content with just food and clothing.  Our society ramps up desire for more and more stuff.  And all this stuff takes money.  Thus the desire for money becomes more and more intense.
            Paul also warns us in that passage that the love of money is the root of kinds of evil (what people will do for it) and condemns us to lives of discontent.
            Thank God each day for what you have, asking Him to help you be a good steward of what He has given you and experience the contentment of which Paul speaks.             

Grace and peace.