“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

               -Hebrews 13:5</

In these difficult economic times, many have turned to the lottery as a source of hope in overcoming debt and poverty. Unfortunately, the average consumer will spend far more playing the lottery than they will ever actually win. That’s why lotto companies are able to give a large share of their revenue to educational programs and yet still have millions to give away to that truly lucky individual who manages to win something.

What many fail to understand as they hand over their hard-earned cash in exchange for that microscopic chance of winning more, is that the lottery is a virtual tax on the poor. The possibility of being struck by a car and killed on your way to cash in is even greater than the chances of you winning in the first place! Nonetheless, these companies continue to rake in untold millions from the poor while awarding grants and scholarships to the rich and middle class as justification for their actions.

In addition to the foolishness of betting money on something that will never, ever happen, research has shown that the lucky winner is not always better off after winning. Many become drug-addicts, divorcees, and filers of bankruptcy. Billie Bob Harrell, winner of the $31 million Texas jackpot, admitted that winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever happened to him shortly before he committed suicide to end his miserable earthly life.

Certainly a statistically unsound investment, there are many ways to grow the money you would otherwise waste in hopes of winning the jackpot. Consider, for example, depositing the money you spend on that daily lotto ticket into a bank account or retirement fund. Even a low interest rate will eventually net you more than you’ll ever win playing the lottery – and that’s a guarantee, not a one in 18,000,000 chance!