The Powerball lottery amount is up to a historic amount. It is projected to 1.3 BILLION dollars. I would bet it gets up to 1.5 at least. Like millions of other people, I have dreamed about winning that money.
We all have, right? We have all asked ourselves, “What would I do with a billion dollars?”
My thoughts go to things like … What kind of house would I buy? Would I get new cars? What ministries would I give money towards? Who could I bless with that money? How could I use that money to help people achieve their dreams?
But having all that money comes with its own set of problems. How would this affect my family? My kids? My friendships? Church?
Of course, when I have these conversations with myself, Someone else is also present. God is a part of these discussions, and God is patient and lovingly sitting there with me saying, “What can a billion dollars do that I can’t do?”
With me, that’s the struggle. I know what the Bible says. I know the truths of the Kingdom. But do I really believe them?
With the Kingdom is power, redemption, resources. “Ask and it will be given.” “As the Father in my name and he will give it.” “… the Spirit that rose Christ from the dead is in you …” “If you have faith of a mustard seed, speak to this mountain and it will go into the sea.” “Having nothing yet possessing everything.”
If God is my Father, and he is the King of all creation, there is nothing I don’t have NOW. I have an inheritance I can’t lose. I have rewards in heaven no one can take.
Could I do great things with a billion dollars? Sure. Maybe. And God would still be glorified, in a sense, if I was wise and kept my integrity with all that money, if I was able to stay humble. But worldly wealth comes with its problems.
First, worldly wealth can lead to pride and distraction. It comes with great temptation to put trust in wealth and riches. For most of the people who win the lottery, it ruins their life. Because the money they thought would “solve” their problems only create more of them and expose a lack of discipline and character. Wealth is deceptive. “You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked …”
Second, that money has no lasting foundation. It can be lost in a moment. There is no security within that money. “For one such hour great riches came to nothing.”
The wealth of the Kingdom comes with no such problems. As to the first, the wealth of the Kingdom empowers but also humbles, places our focus on the King. The wealth of the Kingdom transforms us and others into more like God, our Father.
To the second, our eternal inheritance and wealth cannot be lost. “Don’t store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Store up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal.”
Which wealth is more powerful? Which is more important? Which has more influence?
When we realize that the eternal wealth we possess has more influence and power than worldly wealth, it transforms how we pray, what we pray, and even the outcome of our prayers. Not that the results will be immediate all the time, although sometimes they are, but watching God do great things satisfies our soul and gives us more faith.
We act, as well. When we act according to our eternal, Kingdom wealth, we act differently, too. We make choices based on revelation rather than circumstances. That results in testimonies about his faithfulness and our continued transformation and character.
With the riches of heaven, we can help others fulfill their Kingdom dreams, we can have amazing marriages, we can raise our children well, we can have all that we need to do what God has called us to do and our needs provided for.
What would you do if you truly possessed the riches of Heaven? What would you pray for? Do that. For those of us who have committed to be disciples of Christ and be trained in the Kingdom, that is a greater reality than any riches the world has to offer.
If that’s not you, then the invitation is open.
Peace.
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