Confessing the Sin of the Money Hungry 🤑

If you Confess, He will Forgive.

The largest lottery jackpot ever recorded was a 2.04 billion dollar Powerball prize, won on November 8, 2022, by a single ticket sold in California. That lucky duck… 🍀🦆😒 Except, I bet that person still can’t afford to live in California.

What was your reaction to seeing those record-breaking lottery jackpots? Did a small part of you feel disappointed that you didn’t win the $2.04 BILLION? (Internal monologue: What if I was the one in line at Circle K, and I was the one who felt I should buy a ticket? Wouldn’t I be amazing?) Okay, snap out of it, Bo…

Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash

Years ago, I saw a line stretching out the door of a gas station when the record-breaking lotto winnings were “only” $929.9 million. Everyone standing in line was—you guessed it—buying lottery tickets. (I was getting an Icee, I swear…) We all have dreams of how winning, making, or inheriting lots of money might transform our lives. I remember being a kid and dreaming of winning the lottery. My dream? Owning every Nintendo game in the world. Even a 6-year-old Bo Kyle believed money could fix what was broken in life. The truth is, I wasn’t content with what God had provided for me. It wasn’t enough that I had good parents, nice brothers, and a 1,200-acre rice farm as my backyard. I needed more. And more money would be the key to power, the key to changing my circumstances. Money meant security, freedom, contentment, happiness, time, and less work—right?

So are we unlucky because we didn’t win? My dad, Chip Kyle, often says, “We’ve hit the cosmic lottery.” He says that because he first ponders the vastness of the cosmos. With all the complexities of galaxies, we live on a planet that can sustain life! And of all the centuries we could have been born, we live in an age of modern travel, long lifespans, and amazing technology. And I, Bo Kyle, was born into a loving and privileged American family. So, how will that perspective change our lives? You can wake up daily like you hit the lottery—because you did.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Here’s another thought: Maybe we’re the fortunate ones for not winning billions of dollars. We’ve been spared the temptation of drowning in wealth. Studies show that sudden wealth can lead to increased anxiety and stress, as the responsibilities that come with newfound fortune often outweigh its benefits. In fact, research suggests that once a person earns $70,000 annually, additional income doesn’t significantly increase happiness. If I hadn’t told you that, I wonder what number you thought could make you happy. (Leave a comment and share your number!)

Let’s not allow something as common as money to distract us from the true source of security, freedom, and joy. Reading this far, you might think, “If happiness doesn’t come from money, it must come from family or relationships.” And you aren’t wrong. Those things may bring joy for a time, but what happens when our relational luck runs out? Families and friends will pass away. We’ll leave them, or they’ll leave us. Sorry for the sad truth—I hate that part. So, what can save us even from death?

Photo by Malvestida on Unsplash

Don’t base your life on luck, which always runs out—live in God’s grace and mercy. Consider knowing Jesus. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing], that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sake He became [so very] poor, in order that you by His poverty might become rich [enriched, abundantly supplied]” (2 Corinthians 8:9). This is not some health-and-wealth gospel. Yet, the Lord—the God of the universe—knows you. And He provides for our deepest needs.

As Jesus said, “If you abide [united, remain] in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Pause for a second and think. Jesus isn’t speaking to everyone. He’s assuming an abiding relationship. Many of us—Christians included—do not abide. We all need to repent, even now. Would you ask Jesus and His word to satisfy your life? If you do, I doubt your prayer will have much to do with $$$.

Take a moment to reflect. It’s time to lament. Our souls have been corrupted by discontentment, and it’s time to turn back to the God who provides. After a moment of silence, pray this prayer and receive the assurance of pardon found in God’s word.

Photo by chris liu on Unsplash

Let’s Pray:

God of mercy, We confess that we have placed our trust in wealth and worldly gain rather than in You. We have sought security in possessions, freedom in success, and contentment in fleeting pleasures. We have envied others and allowed discontent to shape our hearts and actions. We have overlooked the daily blessings You provide and forgotten the eternal riches You offer. We have pursued our desires at the expense of abiding in Your word and Your presence. Forgive us, O God, for the ways we have turned from Your grace and sought satisfaction apart from You. Help us to lay down the idols of money, status, and self-reliance. Renew our hearts to trust in You as the true source of joy and provision. By Your Spirit, teach us to abide in Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Lord, so that our lives may reflect Your goodness and our prayers align with Your will. We thank You for the riches of Your mercy and the unshakable hope found in Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen

Your Personal Prayer of Confession

[Continuing in Prayer] Jesus, thank you for hearing our prayer and bringing us forgiveness on the cross. Lord, we rejoice at your resurrection from the dead and our freedom from sin. We are grateful for your word in the Psalms, which assures us of our faith, saying, “The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:13b-14). You also remind us in Your Word that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; through faith in Christ, we are saved. Lord, encourage our assurance through our faithfulness to you. And thank you, God, for giving us the Lord’s Prayer, which teaches us all how to pray, saying:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Thanks for praying; God Bless You! Hope you’ll read more next Saturday @ 10.