Winning and Losing

by Jim Clark

    On November 26, 1996 Dennis Pinto discovered he won $3 million in the lottery. Ironically, it turned out to be the saddest day of his life.

    You'd think that winning the lottery would be one of life's greatest joys. Not so for Dennis Pinto. On the day he won $3 million in California's Super Lotto his wife died of ovarian cancer. She was only 31. As he handed the winning ticket to the store clerk he said somberly, "My wife just passed away." What good will all that money do for Dennis if he has no one with whom to share it? $3 million... but his wife is dead.

    An even better question to ask ourselves is, "What if we enjoy a comfortable life on earth but spend an eternity separated from the Lord of life?" Jesus says, "The man who wants to save his life will lose it; but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it." "What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

    I want you to take a long hard look at the priorities of your life and ask yourself this question: "Am I living for myself or for what lasts forever -- a relationship with the living God?" As Paul says in 2 Timothy, "Don't put your hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but put (your) hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

Posted: 02/21/2001
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200102/20010221_losing.html

(c) 2001, Jim Clark <jimclark@abilene.com>. Used by permission of Hope for Life <http://www.hopeforlife.org>" -->

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