“Wealth Makes Many Friends”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
In 1990, the Orlando Sentinel reported that William Curry, a Boston resident, died just a few weeks after winning the state lottery worth 3.6 million dollars (see article). Mr. Curry had worked most of his life as a cafeteria cook for the Merit Food Company on a modest income by which he managed to provide for his wife, son, and daughter.
After winning the lottery, his first thought was to buy a Dalmatian puppy for his kids. In fact, that was the extent of the celebration. Shortly after, the parasites began converging — the lawyers, investment advisers, accountants, and financial analysts.
He was so overwhelmed by them, and by all of the people wanting handouts for all manner of charities, that he returned to his old job in the cafeteria. But even there, he couldn’t escape the financial advisers.
His sister-in-law reported that in the weeks after he won the lottery, it was not the money that caused his stress — it was all of the people who wanted to deal themselves in.
As a result, William Curry died of a heart attack at only 37 years of age.
Solomon was right when he stated:
“Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.” (Proverbs 19:4) and “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.“(Ecclesiastes 5:12).
Brethren and friends, instead of putting our trust in uncertain riches (Proverbs 23:5), let us put our trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).
Let us be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for ourselves a good foundation for the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
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- The Christian And Gambling
- Christians, Gambling, and the Lottery
- New Gambling Studies Highlight Age-old Problem