More then a 550 million dollar jackpot
550 million dollars! That’s how much the Powerball jackpot was worth on Wednesday night. 550 million! Can you imagine that much money?!? I can’t wrap my mind around it. What would one person do with that much money? I had a few ideas. I would pay for my whole squad to go on the race and the reminder of the funding needed of my friends who are already on it. I would pay of the student loans of my whole family. I would donate a bunch to the two churches I attend. I would donate to my friends who are on staff with The Navigators. I would donate to ministries like World Vision and Habitat for Humanity and each of the many ministries I will come across on the race. I would go on some adventures with my family and friends to places we have always wanted to go. I would do all of that and still have money left over.
This is where I am stuck. How about buy a really nice house? Live alone in a mansion with so many rooms that many remain empty. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I would be more then content living in a three-room apartment. Maybe even a trailer. I know! I could buy a new car! And do what? Have a GPS that will get me lost anyway? I can use the rest of the money to pay for all the gas my new car will use? I would rather have a bike or live in a place with great public transportation. Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying that really nice houses and cars are bad things I am just saying I personally would have no idea what to do with them. But the fact of the matter is I did not end up buying a lottery ticket. I did not win 550 million dollars. I am more then ok with that because as you can see I would have no idea what to do if I did.
$15,500. Now that’s a number I can wrap my brain around. With $15,500 I would know exactly what to do. I would hop on some planes, trains, and buses (maybe even some elephants) and travel to 11 different countries to be a missionary. I would teach English to the little children in Cambodia. I would love the children in Africa who have aids and feel so unloved. I would go to Thailand and bring those girls working in the “red light distinct” the hope of Jesus Christ and provide them with new opportunities. I would make sure that they know that they have a Savior who loves them, and will provide for them even in the midst of the current “hell” they are in. I will dance and sing with the gypsy children in Romania and be overwhelmed by joy. I will preach the name of my heavenly father to so many who have not even heard it before. I will witness tragedies, miracles and hearts being transformed.
I don’t know why I keep saying “I” though, because actually I will not be the one doing any of this. It will not be me but God moving through me and using me as a vessel to do all these things. Before he uses me though he is going to be using you all to send me. So when you make a donation you are not simply giving me money. What you are doing is making an investment in the world. It is an investment in which God it going to use to bring love, hope and justice into His hurting world. Yes it will pay for my food and travel but only so that I can have the energy and health to do the will of God. We are only vessels for him to use and move through. So when I ask you for money please do not give it to me out of a sense of obligation or something you “should “do. If that is your motivation I would rather you keep it. I want you to invest in the Kingdom of God through me so you can see what you “could” do. What He can do. What He will do. So in the end the money you invest will end up being worth so much more then $15,500 and even more then a $550 million jackpot because of the lives that were changed and the hope and love that was brought. I am pretty sure heaven is worth more then 550 million dollars and when you invest in this trip you may be helping many people get there. I mean the streets are paved in gold right?!?! Try to imagine that!
