As I drove around the state of Georgia last week I couldn’t help but notice the billboard signs each day that displayed the latest total of possible winnings at the PowerBall. My week started out with it registering $400 million and before I made it home it was up to $800 million. I was like most anyone else: Hmmm, what would I do with just half that amount? The thought quickly faded though for several reasons; 1) I wasn’t going to spend any money on the chance to begin with and; 2) I don’t believe in luck, I believe in God.

Like you, I work too hard for my money to just be giving it to the government. They take enough of it without my permission anyway and take more and more each year. Plus, I am not impressed with how they handle what they get now. Why would I want to give anymore to them? Yes, we could debate back and forth how several states use the lottery to fund education, and how our state’s money is going to some other state. I could counter with 95% of people who win the lottery are bankrupt and worse off than when they won and could quote statistics from other states who have to pay for the washout of addiction. I think this debate misses the point. When you boil it all down, the question is: what do you believe, or more plainly, where is your heart?

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills the bible says. So, couldn’t this same God give me $800 million dollars if He really wanted me to have it? Is that what my relationship to Him is all about? It has to go much deeper with Him. Jesus told us to worship God the Father with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When He blesses me, what is my reaction? Well, I deserve this. I work harder than most folks. I am more favored. Can’t you tell by how well I am blessed? Or, look at me. I am all that and a bag of fries baby! Supersized at that. If He chooses to take everything from me, what would my reaction be then? That’s not fair! Hey, I worked hard for all that! Why are you picking on me? Why I am losing all this and those people over there aren’t even working at all and have more than me? Notice these are all heart issues? Many I have had to deal with before and maybe you have to. Would to God I would have the attitude rather of David and Job.

God said David was a man after God’s own heart. Job said after all he had lost, that even if God chose to slay him, He would still be his God. God is a present help not only in times of trouble (thank you, Jesus), but also in a time of plenty. How we handle all times is based on how deep our relationship is with Him. God loves you if you play the lottery and if you don’t. He loves you when you seem to be doing well and when you are not. What He is after is your heart in order to have a deep, meaningful relationship with you. He wants the best for you and to be vital part of your life.

Are you, like David, after God’s own heart? Put another way, are you seeking what God’s heart seeks. God further said of David that “he will do what I want him to do.” Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” and “where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.” Where your heart is, is where you will spend the most time, talent, effort, energy, and money. On what do you base your future and look to for direction; luck, chance, fate, crossing your fingers, the stars, horoscope? I don’t believe in luck, I believe in God.

Recently, I found a website that has some good insights on what they call Kingdomnomics. I encourage you to check them out at the link below.

Kingdomnomics  – “Enjoy a life that echoes into eternity.”