We enjoy watching Lottery Dreamhouse on HGTV on Friday evenings just for fun. Surprisingly, those people who win big lottery bankrolls generally choose fairly modest new homes.
When Iowa first legalized lottery tickets, I admit I bought a few to put in the Christmas stockings. It seemed like a fun idea. I'm not much of a gambler; I've never been to an Iowa casino. Though I've been in Las Vegas, my only gambling was a quarter in a machine at the airport. I'm not big on throwing money away.
But, that doesn't stop me from wishing I could win a big lottery. I dream of what I could do with a million dollars: Pay for my grandchildren's college education; buy a new one-story house for my sister-in-law; donate to my church, Christian radio, IPTV, and the Iowa State Fair. All things that I care about but with our current retirement budget I can no longer do or do only minimally.
I struggle to imagine giving up everything I own to follow Jesus. That saddens me, for I know that is what the disciples had to do. They gave up their families, their homes, even their extra clothes to be faithful followers of Christ.
Jesus discussed with his followers how difficult it was for a rich man to enter heaven in this passage from Luke.
"Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
God doesn't ask every person to give up all they own. He wants us to give up anything we consider more valuable than God. He requires us to give Him first place in our lives. If we give greater value to something other than God, we need to get rid of it. That's why the rich young man of the Bible went away very sad.
Maybe I really don't want to win the big lottery after all.
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