What would you do if you won Megamillions or Powerball or you inherited lots of money? I have heard a lot of people say I would pay off debt, quit work, vacation, or buy lots of stuff like a new house or car. Did you notice one thing about all of those options, it involves being selfish.
Did you ever stop to think that the first thing you should do is pray to God before you even claim your prize? God may have allowed you to win to see what you would do with the money. In other words, it is a test and if you think of yourself first then I am pretty sure you may have gotten an “F” on that exam.
God did not create you to be selfish. He created you in His image and if you stop to really think about it, He is anything but selfish.
Does that mean you cannot spend any of this new unearned money on yourself? No! It does mean that you need to think of others. Will you give at least 10% of your income to the church? Will you be more of a philanthropist and help others?
When I think of winning or inheriting money, I think of the following verses:
Matthew 25:14-30 New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
It is not about making more money, but about the responsibility that is given to each of us and how we handle that responsibility. If you neglect that responsibility, then why would God give you more? Based on this passage, I do not think He would.
It is also about what are we doing to share the word of God with others and demonstrating Christ like behavior or creating more and better disciples. Remember, you are the only version of Christ that people will see. If I never spread the word or act like Christ, then how can we ever expect others to come to know Jesus or God? In other words, how can we ever do “The Great Commission”?
Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The answer is we cannot.
So I urge you to pray to God for help on how you are to use the responsibility you have been given. Once you know, then go and do the best you can and leave the rest to God.