Gigantic Lottery Winnings!

Richard Hollerman

What would you do if someone were to hand you one thousand dollars? Or maybe one million dollars? Would you be cautious? Or curious? Or reluctant? Or elated? We wonder!

If you are a Christian, you probably think that a question like this is nonsensical for the Christian surely would not play the “Lottery” and would not gamble. This is another question, one that we have or should address in another article, but the question before us has to do with the Lottery and how we (as Christians) should respond to it.

I recall that where I worked, occasionally someone would make a passing, light-hearted comment about giving me part of the winnings for this sort of lottery. Of course, as a Christian, I never buy a lottery ticket, I never play the lottery, and I reject any suggestion that this would be or could be a righteous thing to do. Yet it does come our way.

For instance, we know that recently there have been many lottery facts and figures and the winnings are well publicized. As an example, we find the following:

A ticket sold in suburban Chicago has won an estimated $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the nation’s third-largest lottery prize. Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

  1. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
  2. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
  3. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)
  4. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)
  5. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, from Wisconsin)
  6. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
  7. $731.1 million, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021 (one ticket, from Maryland)
  8. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021 (one ticket, from California)
  9. $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018 (two tickets, from Iowa and New York)
  10. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)___

Sources: AP archives, www.megamillions.com and www.powerball.com

I don’t know about all of this terminology, but I know enough to realize that this is a massive amount of money. These people who “won” this amount received a great amount of money for their trouble. We don’t just refer to thousands, or millions, but billions of dollars!

Just think: How would you spend one billion dollars? Even if part, perhaps a large part, of this were to go in taxes and would need to be divided into more than one “pot,” still this would be a huge amount of money to win!

But, the Christian, of course, has other issues. We don’t want to gamble and the Lottery is one of the chief ways to gamble in the United States (and elsewhere, I suppose). Further, we know that seeking wealth (through the Lottery or in other ways) will keep one from the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven (see Mark 10:21-27; Matthew 19:20-26). Further, we know that we are to lay up treasure in heaven and not on earth (see Matthew 6:19-33), and this, of course, would forbid the Lottery. In fact, if we wish to enter God’s kingdom, it is more difficult for a rich person to go through the eye of a needle than to enter the Lord’s kingdom.

This would show that we need to run from the riches that the Lottery represents. Further, think of the millions of people who waste money on this form of gambling and don’t “win” the millions involved. This too is an irresponsible investment and evil. In fact, it is utterly sinful. Think of the millions who waste money that should be used for children, to pay family bills, and to do other legitimate things but, instead, is used to throw away this money into covetous behavior. Think also of the thousands of stores and other such establishments who cater to this covetousness. Not only are they doing wrong but also those who work at such dens. Further, think of the wicked behavior and example this leaves to one’s children, spouses, and others—rather than exerting a good example to others.

Yes, it would be nice to have the millions (in a sense), for one could think of the many good things that we might do—for ourselves, for our families, for others. But think of the way that this would mean that we take other people’s money and waste it on wrongful expenditures. It would be sinful and wrong.

We must denounce using the lottery in this way and urge others to denounce it as well. Let us use any money that God provides in a good and responsible manner. The Lottery and all forms of gambling would be wrong–for you, for me, and for all who “play.” This would be sinful. And it would keep one from enjoying the blessings of the eternal kingdom of God!