It was a cold rainy day in mid-November when Robert Bailey walked into a Deli in Harlem. Normally he bought his lottery tickets at different stores, but on this day he ducked into a little deli to stay dry. He walked up to the counter and asked for a ticket with the same 6 numbers he had been playing for over 25 years, 8-12-13-19-27 Powerball 4. On October 27^th, the impossible became possible when he won 343 Million dollars.
 
How many people long to be in Robert Bailey’s shoes. In 2017 the U.S sold 73 Billion dollars worth of lottery tickets to nearly 100 million people. A third of the US had hopes and dreams of making it big and that doesn’t even include those who are working to get rich, betting on sports, dropping quarters in the one armed bandit, or taking part in enumerable other activities in hopes of getting rich.
 
Isn’t that part of the American dream after all? Going from rags to riches in the country which offers the greatest opportunity in the world! It is rare for a person to stop and ask if money would actually be as great a blessing as so many of us hope.
 
In Matthew 19 Jesus talks with a very rich and powerful young man. Not only is the man rich, but he is an upstanding citizen who lives a praiseworthy life. Yet he realized something was missing, in all of his wealth, in all of his goodness, he had a nagging fear that none of it would last when he died. So he approaches Jesus and asks what must I do to inherit eternal life. After a brief conversation, Jesus says, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21b). The man goes away sad because he was unwilling to part with his great wealth.
 
God is not impressed with our wealth. He is more concerned about what we do with what we have than how much we have. Money can easily become a stumbling block to our relationship with Jesus and cost us far more than we ever get from it. After all, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26a)
 
Are you holding out hope for a big pay day? If you are know that it will not solve your problems. Rather than putting your hope in wealth which will one day pass away. Instead, follow Jesus, steward well what God has given you and you will be filled with the love of God worth more than all the riches of the world.
 

Father, when I wander far from you sometimes I feel like you have forgotten me or that you will never come help me. Remind me that in Jesus Christ I am your beloved child. That you will never lose track of me, that no matter how far I wander you will find me and bring me back. 

If you feel distanced from God right now, write down what God has done in scripture to demonstrate that He will come and find you. If you are close to God now, write about a time you wandered and how God brought you back.

The New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in a Year

• Matthew 16

 
The Bible in a Year

• Matthew 16
• Genesis 35-36