This week’s winning $842 million Powerball jackpot ticket was sold at the Food Castle in Grand Blanc, Michigan– about a mile or so from my house. I didn’t buy the ticket. If I had, I would have had to turn in my credentials (Nazarene’s frown on gambling as we view it as an addictive tax on the poor) and I wouldn’t be writing this little blog (I’d be in Italy or someplace exotic). I didn’t win it. But if you did, here are a few tips.

Dear Grand Blanc $842 Million Powerball Winner,

Be careful. The Apostle Paul wrote: The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). You are about to see the truth of this Bible verse. Since in Michigan you can’t remain anonymous following winning a multi-state lottery, soon every acquaintance you have ever had will instantly want to be your best friend. Be very careful. Folks will turn to all sorts of evil intentions once they know you are sitting on a windfall. 

Be mindful. Jesus had some harsh words for rich folks. He said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Gulp! But two verses later in explaining those words Jesus said, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 21:26). Whew! So it’s not impossible for things to end well for you, but it is difficult. There will be plenty of distractions that your new wealth can buy. Money has a tendency to make one suspicious (see about comments about being careful), gluttonous and prideful. It can make one lose sight of what’s truly important in life (Hint: It’s not money). 

Be generous. In another place, the Apostle Paul wrote, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6). Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). You have the rare opportunity to be super generous and still have plenty left over for you and your family’s future. 

Be refreshing. Proverbs 11:25 states: A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. The common thinking is that money changes people. It does. You won’t be the same now that your bank account has an extra $842 million dollars in in ($475 million if you take the one time buy out). But that doesn’t mean you’ll be worse. Be better. Use your money wisely. Don’t be in the statistic of the lottery winners who blew it all and ended depressed, friendless and penniless. Be the secret Santa that blesses people and worthy institutions. Be the kindhearted uncle that pays that gifted niece or nephew’s way through college. Be a better person than the who you are right now, and who you were when you bought the winning ticket. 

Finally, Paul wrote these words to his young apprentice Timothy on dealing with those who have wealth. It would be my final reminder for you as well: 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

You’ve been given a rare opportunity to be a blessing. Pray and use your new found wealth to do just that!

Your friend,

Rob

P.S. For the rest of us, who didn’t play (me) or didn’t win (probably you), the above tips regarding money are true for us as well. God has blessed all of us to be a blessing. Let’s do that thought out 2024.