How many of us wish we can win the lottery? Not so much with the little prizes, but the big ones… the millions of dollars. We dream of buying a new house, car(s), going on a trip. I’ve been there. I still buy the occasion ticket, which is something I need to work on in my life.

Most often I buy a ticket, whether it be a scratch ticket or even a lottery ticket I end up losing. Sometimes, through rarely I get a winner. “I won, I won, I just won $5.00”, on my $5.00 ticket… Yahoo! Somehow that shouldn’t seem like winning, though. So, what do I do? I buy another ticket or perhaps more tickets, after all I just won $5.00. lol It becomes a cycle.

So, what am I personally going to do? For one thing I’m going to break the cycle. Not buy a ticket just because the jackpot is huge or just because it’s available at the register, I’m at. The reason, well the Lord pointed something out to me. If I spend this money on lottery, what budget am I going to break. Where is the money coming from or where would it be better spent? Plus, what good is a mansion or wealth here, on this planet if it means I lose my soul. If all my needs are met, do I still need the Lord? My answer is always yes, but what is your answer? What do you want out of life? Do you want someone in your life that truly Loves you, that takes care of you needs or do you want the greed and corruption that comes from not needing anything or anyone? I know what Satan would pick for yours and my life, if he could, if he had a choice. Don’t give him that choice.

Track how much you spend on lottery, I’ll do the same. Add it up at the end of the month, subtract your winnings. Is it a reasonable amount to spend when you could have paid a little more of your debt load off, bought a gift for your spouse or child or bought a meal for someone that needs it?

I used to own a convenience store that sold lottery tickets and there were people in everyday spending money. Money they may have delegated for lottery in their budget (I hope), but some of those people could not afford it. You could tell or they mentioned they were on fixed income. Sometimes they bought scratch tickets $50 at a time, scratched them all and came back and did it again or I would see them at other stores doing the same thing there. I have no idea how much they spent or made in a day. For them, there is programs for their gambling addiction, actually sponsored by the lottery themselves in Canada. I’m not sure of elsewhere. They keep looking for the big win. Sometimes they get a fairly big win and then they invest it again in lottery to win bigger. Where is this going to lead… homelessness, no food for your children or yourself, no power this month because you can’t afford to pay the bill?

Most people, including myself, have to reach the bottom before they reach out to the Lord. You don’t have to. Don’t wait, “life is too short”. Before you know it half your lifetime is over or worse yet, you die too young. God has been watching you all your life, he loves his children, even if you are not a believer. What separates you from God is your sin. God is waiting to bring you into the fold, he gave us free-will.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It’s our choice to believe or not. Really there is no middle of the road with this choice. If you don’t choose God, then you’ve chosen the king of this earth (Satan). Satan wants us to be too busy in our lives on this earth to think about happens when we die. The dream to live well on this earth will lead you towards destruction. “Satan has a plan for you.”

If I buy another lottery ticket for myself, I’m going to ask, “do I really want to win what this world has to offer and miss out in heaven”? If asked by my wife to buy a ticket for her, well of course I will. Everyone chooses, but I hope and pray your choice is to stop and think, “what are we buying into”, not just lottery, but other choices we make in our life?

1 Timothy 6:10

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Matthew Chapter 6

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Matthew 6:33

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”