So it says that the first modern-day lottery was started in 1964 in the state of New Hampshire. Did you know that the state of Massachusetts, started their lottery in 1972 with 50 cent tickets and a drawing once a week. Now, it has evolved into over 30 different games and the national sales hit almost 60 Billion in the year 2011.
What’s the odd? The probability of winning a regular lotto is about 1 out of 14 million and the Mega Millions lotto winning probability jumps to 1 out of 175 million. According to National Lightening Safety Institute, the odd of getting struck by lightening is 1:280,000. Meaning that an average person would have 40 times more getting hit by lightening than winning a lottery.
In Colorado, the lottery organizers spend more than $400 million dollars each year trying to lure residents to gamble on lotteries. However, Massachusetts Lottery Ad leads to what I want to say today.
In the ad they offer two choices for how to “make millions.” Here is a quote: “Plan A: Start studying when you’re about 7 years old, real hard. Then grow up and get a good job. From then on, get up at dawn every day. Flatter your boss. Crush competition ruthlessly. Climb over backs of co-workers. Be the last one to leave every night. Squirrel away every cent. Avoid having a nervous breakdown. Avoid having premature heart attack. Get a face lift. Do this every day for 30 years, holidays and weekends included. By the time you’re ready to retire you should have your money. Or Plan B: Play the Lottery.”
So what it is that they are saying, “Hey if we can have it quick and easy why not?” and isn’t it similar mentality for many Christians? Even though Jesus said “come follow me”, we tend to “sit and wait” while hoping we would become committed believers who are mature in Christ. There is no “quick and easy” way of following Christ. Jesus made it clear in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Yes, following Christ and becoming more mature in faith take sweat and sacrifice. So no “lottery Christian lifestyle” allowed in Life Church!