Do you really believe what you say you believe?

I've stated before that I don't care about winning the lottery. In fact, it's not that I don't care, it's that I absolutely don't want to win the lottery. Don't get me wrong, I could really use the money, but the most precious thing I could buy is the ability to map out my future, financial and otherwise on my own; it would be the ability to be the type of person that doesn't need the lottery.

But this requires effort, learning, and, yes, even struggle. And there is no store that sells self-reliance and resolve. If there were, the product would be defective on purchase!

And so you can see why I don't want to win the lottery. However, I am constantly amazed at how many people don't understand my position. I rarely bring up this topic with friends but it does come up, and when I explain I get blank stares.

It was just a few days ago I was explaining this to someone and I said "If I win the lottery, the only thing I would want to spend the money on is the ability to make it myself. But once I win the lottery, the skills, habits, and drives I would learn would be lost. The change in me and what I learn is more valuable than anything I could earn."

His response was typical. With a chuckle and a big grin he said "I'd rather have the money."

And this individual was a Christian. A Christian who believes in the infallibility of the Bible. I say that for a reason - in particular because of Proverbs 3:13-15:

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

I have come to find, as much as I want to have money and have the things that that money would buy, such as going on some fun trips with my kids, what I gain without money is what's truly priceless.


And I'm not the only one. CNN recently did an article about people working for themselves. One of the persons, Vanessa Fox, a former employee of Google, had this to say:

"As hokey as it sounds, there's more to life than money," she says. "As much as I loved working at Google, I am really enjoying the flexibility I have now, as well as the ability to really make a difference in the direction I choose to go in."

There is more to life than money. Do you believe that? Really? How much of your life is wrapped up in finding a way to buy this TV or that boat, and how much is tied up in trying to be a better you?