Mega Millions!  Somebody won it. The person is from South Carolina. Their lives are going to change because  I don’t care who you are that’s a lot of money.  I can only image what I would do with that much money.

First, I would pay the taxes. Don’t need Uncle Sam coming to my house because I didn’t give him his share.

Second, I would pay off my student loans and pay for my son’s college education.  Third… I don’t know what third would be but I know I won’t have to worry about it.   Why?  Because I am not going to win.  But Jim how do you know you won’t?  I know because I am not playing.  I don’t have a ticket.

Don’t get me wrong I thought about buying one.  I work a second job where I sell the tickets so it would be easy.  I could go up to the counter when I pay for iced tea and say, “Can you add on a Mega Millions?”  My co-worker would give me the ticket and very few people would know.

There is only one problem.  I would know and if I won the whole world would know when I claimed the prize.  I can see the headline know, “Poor Pastor Cashes In.”  Yeah but think of all the good you could?  You could help finance a new church somewhere.  You could help this person or that organization.  Those things are probably true enough but I would have to justify my playing and winning.  I would have to say, “Yeah but…” when someone would ask me, “Where did you get all your money?”

As I thought about getting a ticket for the Mega Millions, but a thought came to me.  If I have to justify it do I really need to do it?  No.  If I have to justify it I don’t need to do it.  In fact, I probably shouldn’t.

Now I don’t know if that was the Lord Jesus talking to me or not but one thing for sure I hope I don’t have to apply that logic to everything that I want.  A new car: I really want a new car.  I could use it for this or that or possibly the other. No, if you have to justify it you don’t need it.  A new podcast mic: Yes, I do have a nice AT2020 but I need a Shure SM7B.  My podcast would be much better if I had that mic.  Think about it.  The Shure SM7B is the industry standard in microphones. How can my podcast not get better with it?.  No, you don’t need it if you are trying to justify it.

What are you wanting to get or do that you have to justify? Do you really need it?