Powerball Winners Donate $1 Million

 A trio who just won the 12th largest amount in Connecticut’s history, a whopping $254 million dollars, have decided to donate a million dollars to 5 separate charities. Each charity involves veterans and members of the military who have recently seen active duty. The receiving organizations offer help with veterans' housing, mental health care, treatment and diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries, education and employment training and other similar services. The cause is obviously noble and the gesture wonderful. Also the group has stated that they hope their example with a portion of their prize will inspire future winners to do likewise.

The trust fund was created by Greenwich wealth managers Greg Skidmore, Brandon Lacoff and Tim Davidson after they learned they had won the jackpot claimed on November 28 at Connecticut Lottery headquarters. After the announcement of their victory and generous plans, there was some speculation that the three were not the actual winners, but protecting the identity of the real ones. This was based partly due to a sense to some that the group of three did not seem quite excited enough about their record jackpot. But either way, again, the giving to the military charities by the Powerball winners was admirable to say the least and their targeted organizations deserving.

The subject of giving is one that is not foreign to the Scriptures. And perhaps one of the better know stories, and for a good reason, is revealed in Mark chapter twenty-one. It is affectionately known to most familiar with the Bible as “The Widow's Mites”. The scene opens with Jesus sitting nearby the local treasury. Verse one begins the description of what took place and eventually includes the Lord’s own pointed words and the great spiritual truth He wanted to make known to all generations from that moment on..

“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

Multiple millions dream about winning a life-altering fortune. Also, far too many who cannot afford it spend far too much to achieve that extremely unlikely dream. But with that said, it would be indeed interesting to know how many who claim to be in God’s family would honestly give a similar ratio portion as did the widow to their Savior’s work if they won a mega-jackpot or came into a vast fortune through some other avenue.

It is no secret that a high percentage of churches, missionary groups, and other Christian ministry find themselves in a constant state of financial struggle. In some places on earth, that may be true largely because the average believer there is dirt poor and perhaps not even able to met the basic needs of their families. But that is simply not the case in America – at least for the preponderance of Christians who live there.

One very quick glance at what most drive, where they live, what they do, where they go, and all they own proves in a heartbeat that inadequate giving to the Lord’s work is really more about the condition of the heart. In other words, very few churches and ministries in modern-day America should be continually hurting financially and begging for the funds needed to carry on the Savior’s work on earth. Poor giving is generally not about materially poor Christians. It is a tragic symptom of poor spiritual priorities. It is simply a basic inability to understand, to really care about, or seriously believe in their hearts Jesus’ words on the subject as spelled out in Matthew 6:33 and especially as seen in Matthew 6:19-21:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

As one has said, “Your Christian life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you want. But you can only spend it once.” Those with the mindset of the widow in Luke twenty-one fully grasp this eternal concept and they spend their lives and their assets on the only thing that truly matters and lasts forever!

William Breckenridge