With no winners in Saturday night’s (January 9, 2016) record $949.8 million Powerball drawing, the next jackpot could reach an estimated $1.3 billion, said lottery officials. The Powerball is at an all time high and there is an excitement in the air.

Before you get caught up in all the excitement and the whispers of wealth, take a moment and give the second chapter of Ecclesiastes (written by a guy who had it all) a good read through. Sure, we can pursue material things in life (and most of us do) and yes, when we loose our stuff (and we will) — much of it can be found again. But there is one thing that’s really tough to find again once you loose it: LIFE!!

Seriously, will your life really be better if you win? …maybe for a time.

Whatever chapter of life you’re in right now, remember we will all face that day when the last curtain falls.

On that day, what will you remember?

On that day, what will you wish you had more of?

Lets dig into this a bit more…

The Bible says that for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let that treasure be Jesus Christ. Let that treasure be the love for your spouse, the love for your kids and the love for your family. Just to be clear, I’m not at all suggesting that being financially secure is a bad thing, but for most it becomes our identity and life pursuit. One of the saddest things in life is when our children are young and most enjoyable we parents tend to be busier than ever, establishing ourselves in our careers and preparing for the the future. Unfortunately, in this blind pursuit of wealth we often loose intimacy with our spouses and our kids childhood is flashes before our eyes. We wake up one day and realize our kids are gone and don’t truly know our spouses…and there’s little opportunity to enjoy them at that point.

We are all going to leave a legacy and our live’s will have a lasting impact, good or bad. God has given each of us the capacity to think carefully about what will be left in the wake of our life and to live intentionally to leave behind something ETERNALLY worthwhile.

So what will it be for you?

God designed us to find love in our hearts, and not in the illusions built by fame and money…remember, you can’t take that stuff with you. You can take the memories in your life that were strengthened by love. You don’t need to win the Powerball to start living life — live it now, courageously…from your heart!

…by all means, if this seems like nonsense to you, go ahead keep chasing the wind!