Is Life a Lottery?

Is Life a Lottery?

Millions of people dreamed about winning a half billion dollar lottery prize last Friday! They promised themselves (and God, maybe?) how they would do good things for their church, community, and extended family and I am sure most were quite sincere. The stories of past winners of windfall wealth generally confirm that coming into that kind of money quickly is not a good thing. It tears apart friendships and divides families. Some winners become addicts, others get depressed, many wish they had never won. I would like to think that I would be different, but ... we’re designed to work, to grow, to make choices appropriate to our maturity and opportunities of the moment.

Jesus teaches that today’s faithfulness lays the foundation for living with tomorrow’s blessings. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (Luke 16:10-11, NIV)

There’s an old story about a small-town pastor who visited a farmer. As they leaned on the fence, the farmer talked about how he would love to give to the church. He knew the needs of missions, wanted to help the kids ministry. “Why, preacher, if I had a hundred hogs, I’d give ten to the Lord today,” was the bold proclamation. The preacher’s reply brought the conversation to an awkward end: “Well, Sam, what about giving the Lord one of ten you have?”

Life is full of tough choices, isn’t it? My high-school age boys have to decide between playing basketball with their friends and doing their homework. In a few years, it will be whether to defer dreams to finish college. Gaining the discipline necessary to make the right choice is a key part of maturity. Great Christians don’t win the character lottery! They "continue to work out (their) salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13, NIV) It’s just too easy to let up, to coast, to know a success or two and to quit pushing.

Millions of people suffer from arrested spiritual development because they no longer are willing to make the tough choices. "For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power." (1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT) There is rich reward in consistently making right choices. It may not show up quickly, it may not be a pocket full of money! However, God is faithful to the faithful, and the promise is sure.

Here’s the word from the Word. Pray for wisdom to receive it, courage to accept it, and discipline to live it - for the glory of God.

"I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (Philippians 3:12-14, NLT)

Press on! As you look at the choices you’re making today, what do they say about the person you will become tomorrow?