Nov 27 2007
Would God answer a lotto prayer?
Gloria Aguda was on the verge of losing her home to foreclosure and couldn’t afford a trip to the doctor. Depressed, the 50-year-old Fountain resident prayed for help. Last week those prayers were answered when she matched all six numbers in the Lotto drawing for a $9 million jackpot.
Read about it here.
[From me]
I won the Irish, British, and Jamaican Lottery today according to the e-mails I received. Would you accept the tithe? Wasn’t it David Jeremiah who said the devils had it long enough?
What do you think?
11 responses so far
Of course God answered her prayer! God is not so small that He cannot use something as trivial as the lottery to bless, or teach, His children.
Now will come the real test. Just like Jesus told the story of a master who gave three men money, in order to see what they would do with it, He has given this lady some money, to see how she handles it. If she is like many lottery winners, she will be broke in ten years. But if she is wise, she will invest it, and allow it to grow. She will be able to give away much more than the $9 million she won. Invested in tax free municipal bonds, this lady will have a tax free income of $360,000 a year. If all she does is give a tithe off of that for the rest of her life, she would give away nearly $2 million. If she invested in a quality, growth-style mutual fund, she would have the potential to average $900,000 a year, maybe more. Think of what could be done with that kind of scratch.
I believe that lotteries are a tax on stupidity, but God has been known to use stupid things before, to accomplish His will :>) I’m talking about me.
This reminds me of a wonderful movie I saw a month or so ago called “Ha Ushpizin” (”The Guests” in Hebrew).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ushpizin
It’s a story of a Jewish Jerusalemite couple who are down to their last nickel and can’t even afford the month’s rent, much less a Sukkot for the approaching holiday. Then a miracle happens (but not what you’re expecting). It’s in Hebrew with subtitles, but it that doesn’t bother you, I think this is a movie most people on this blog would enjoy a lot.
Only God can answer if, indeed, He directed this winning to this particular winner. However, what do u do with this verse, without saying that He doesn’t choose who gets the cash?
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
I once had a lady call me saying she won money at the Dog Track and would I accept her tithe to Youth for Christ. She said she was embarrased to give it to her church that preached against gambling. I accepted it and put that money to reaching youth for the Lord.
Frank
Oh and you bet ur bippy I would accept the Tithe!
MIT,
What do I do with it? Why first I read the preceding verses:
Pro 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Pro 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Then, I look at the Hebrew word that was translated as “lot” (”goral” = gimal vov resh lomed) and note that it really means a stones used for divination and has nothing to do with wining money.
Given the above I conclude, based on this Psalm at least, that God prefers wisdom and humility to riches. Then I wonder what this woman has done so wrong to incur the fiery wrath of God!
… but then that’s just me
)
(actually, I’m very happy for her
A Prayer of Humility
âWhen he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.â
- Psalm 9:12
How many times Lord, have I wondered if You heard my prayers? When wickedness surrounds me, and You donât seem to act, I blame the entire world or begin to think Your ears are closed.
If pride has caused my troubles, show me where it leis in me. Humble my heart before You, so I can admit my guilt.
But if I must simply wait Your moment for justice, let humility bring patient expectation that You will remember and act; You hear every breath of my cries when I obey You. So humble my thoughts and my ways that I may wait upon You.
In Jesusâ name. Amen.
MIT,
Your money line works in theory but in reality somewhere between thirty and sixty percent of major lottery winners are bankrupt within 5 years (depending on different studies I have seen at one time or another).
Hopefully she will have someone trustworthy who will be able to help her manage wisely.
I thought playing lottery and gambling is unchristian
My posting about Prov 16:33 was somewhat tounge-in-cheek. No, it isn’t about gambling for money, but a way that people chose to hear from God. Much like the Apostolic council in Acts 1:26.
Martyraj, I know of no scripture that forbids gambling, though many Churches are opposed to it, and it holds no charms for me.
And, BTW, our resident Atheist, the indomitable A3 gets the gold star for doing with the verse what should be done!
I thought it was old Billy Sunday who said that about the devil having had the money long enough–but I won’t be dogmatic about it. And yes, I’d accept it, though some here would get upset about it. Then again, my mantra is, “Forgiveness is easier to come by than permission.”
John Fariss