Do Millions Lead to God

Do Millions Lead to God

1985 4 April 12 Do Millions Lead to God (355) A 63 year-old Italian born American living on the outskirts of New York remained unemployed for eight years, although he was a skilled carpenter, he remained unemployed for eight years and had to make out an existence on a modest union pension. He had not even enough resources to reap the tomato crop in the land he owned next to his house.

One day he decided to buy a lottery ticket. To his surprise, on 27 July, 1984, the news of his having bagged the first prize of twenty million dollars was broken to him, – the biggest lottery prize ever received by any single person anywhere in the world.

The news was first announced over the television. Immediately afterwards a press conference was called. Talking to newsmen, the carpenter told them that he was astonished to hear the news. He said, “I kept on checking my number with the one that was being announced.” Even then he could not quite believe that it was he who had won the prize. His first reaction after hearing the news was to rush to his wife who was asleep. He said to her, “I think we are millionaires.” While talking to newsmen he said, “I got whatever I need. I got my house. I got my tomatoes.”

In this world, money suffices for all the material needs of the people. It, therefore, makes them think of it as an end in itself; possession of wealth comes to be regarded as everything. But, in the next world, it is not money which will matter but God’s grace.

The problems that one faces in this life are very different from those which will have to be faced in the life to come. Today, wealth is held to be of paramount importance. But in the next life, it is good deeds alone which will count. Today, there is nothing we cannot obtain in return for money. But, tomorrow, the only way our needs will be satisfied will be by the grace of God.

(From a news item which appeared in the New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur on the 28th July. 1984.