Posted by
peripheral on Saturday, November 08, 2008 5:25:03 AM
From My Perspective - - -
The
Lottery has become one of those promotions that attract people to “take
a chance”! Just spend a couple of dollars and one may be the next
Jackpot (or Powerball) Winner. There’s a sad story connected to the man
who won the largest lottery in 2002. The ABC News Report
states: “On Christmas morning in 2002, Jack Whittaker woke up to
perhaps the biggest gift imaginable. Whittaker had won the Powerball
lottery jackpot -- a whopping $315 million.” When asked how he was
doing and what had happened since his winning such a large amount, the
report indicates: “Whittaker now says that he regrets winning the
lottery. Since I won the lottery, I think there is no control for
greed. I think if you have something, there's always someone else that
wants it. I wish I'd torn that ticket up. Whittaker had the very best
of intentions: He truly wanted to share his good fortune and help
people. I wanted to build churches, he said. I wanted to get people
food that didn't have food. I wanted to provide clothing for children
that needed clothing. Within months, Whittaker was making good on his
promise. He handed over $15 million for the construction of two
churches alone.
The
initial blitz of publicity meant that everyone knew about Whittaker's
record-breaking win, and he was besieged by requests for help. In order
to deal with these requests, he formed the Jack Whittaker
Foundation...There were so many letters that they wouldn't even deliver
the mail. It was nothing for us to sit for 10 hours just opening
envelopes…” The bottom line to this story is stated: “Whittaker
believes that money isn't what makes people happy -- family is --
Family is what is dear…I don't know where it'll end. But you know, I
just don't like Jack Whittaker. I don't like the hard heart I've got. I
don't like what I've become."
Read
about eight other lottery winners who realized sudden wealth was not
the answer for their personal happiness - http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/8lotteryWinnersWhoLostTheirMillions.aspx
At
a National level, it seems as though the Lottery Mentality is operating
at fever pitch. Banks need assistance; Financial Investment
Institutions need a bailout; A large Insurance/Investment Company needs
a $105 Billion loan; The Automotive Industry is seeking a $50 Billion
Loan; Mortgage Holders are facing almost certain foreclosure unless the
government steps in; the growing number of unemployed want assistance
and benefits; people want health insurance provided; many are
anticipating additional monies through a stimulus package amounting to
near $150 Billion… The nation itself is racing toward Bankruptcy – but
– no one seems ready to say, “We must stop handouts and spending!”
Where will this money come from? Who will pay all the dollars in
outlays? Can we afford to spend beyond our means? The answer to all of
this is to increase Taxes for the top 5% in our country, and to assess
the Oil Companies a Surtax (Windfall Profit Tax) on their earnings. But
curtail spending? Never! Exercise thrift? Why! Work hard and save
before spending? No way! Just - Give Me More!
Consider
these things with me - - - and remember the saying from years ago: “A
fool and his money are easily parted.” It conveys the thought that “If
you spend money carelessly and are cheated easily then you are a fool.”
Jesus taught in a very practical way and warned in Luke 12:15, "Watch
out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not
consist in the abundance of his possessions." The Wisdom Writer asks in
Proverbs 17:16, “Of what use is money in the hand of a
fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?” And raises a parallel
though in Ecclesiastes 5:10, 13-14 – “Whoever loves money never has
money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his
income…This too is meaningless…I have seen a grievous evil under
the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost
through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing
left for him.” I Timothy 6:10, says:”For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money,
have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have…” We need to be wise custodians of
all the Lord entrusts to us! Try it! You’ll be surprised to find that a
penny saved is a penny earned. Trust the Lord always!