Not to be Pharisaical, but I’m not a big fan of
gambling. Any self-righteousness that
may seem implied by that statement would evaporate under the weight of the
vices I have struggled with throughout my life.
While that list may be long and varied, gambling would not be included.
However, I do purchase a Powerball ticket most
weeks. Sometimes twice a week. I have done so for years and consider it my
personal contribution to the welfare of Minnesota’s environment and natural
resources. Like most Powerball players,
my two dollars spent on a ticket buys an opportunity to dream of the life that
might be if I were to actually win a jackpot.
My rational mind knows that I might as well throw the money out of the
car window as I drive past the store, but my imagination is unleashed for a
minimal investment.
Awhile back, as I walked from the convenience
store after purchasing my ticket, the thought went through my mind of the
security that would come from having even a minimal winning of say fifty
million dollars. Putting fifty million
in the bank after paying taxes would certainly provide a certain amount of
confidence in our finances for the coming years.
But even as that thought was running through my
mind, an annoying little question came along side of it. Why would I put more confidence in an overflowing
bank account than I would in the promises my God has given me?
I am promised in my heavenly Father’s written
word, over and over, that he is going to take care of me….That he is going to
provide for me.
And
my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in
Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
Therefore
do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or
‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles
seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them
all. But seek first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
And
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in
all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
Keep
your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he
has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
These and so many more wonderful promises of my
Father’s provision for his children. And
I believe what he says. I have faith in what he says. He always has been faithful to supply my needs
even in times when I have been less than faithful to him. And, I am trusting that he will continue to
do so until the day he takes me home.
But the thought still popped into my mind that
it would be nice to have the security of a fifty million dollar bank
account. It is, I suppose, human nature
to want the sureness of something tangible in the reality of this world. The truth, however, is that as children of
God our reality is not the reality of this world. Our truth is rooted not in this world system,
but in God’s kingdom as revealed to us in his word and by his Spirit. And that truth…that reality…is that I am much
more secure in the promises of my Father than I ever can be with an ever
increasing bank account.
While I put my faith in that, I long for the
day when my faith will be my sight, and the struggles of this world will be a distant
memory. And as I wait, I’m sure I will
buy more Powerball tickets, just to dream of the what if’s. But I am checked when the thought begins to
enter my mind that it would be nice to have the security of a fifty million
dollar checking account because I realize that I already have all of the
security I could ever need or want. And
I pause to thank my God for providing all of my needs according to his riches in
glory in Jesus Christ.
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