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"O to be a Rich Man"

by Phil Robinson

The world's first glimpse of Jack Whittaker was a "fun loving," "happy go lucky" cowboy, with a big heart and a big wallet.  Jack was the winner of the world's richest undivided lottery in history.  The West Virginia good ol' boy promised to share his good fortune with the church and the poor.

Two years later, the picture of a big smile with a big check has turned into a mug shot and multiple drunk driving charges.  According to the Associated Press, the 57 year old grandfather has been ordered to go to rehab in January for 28 days. Whittaker also faces charges of attacking a bar manager and is facing lawsuits from incidents at a night club and a racetrack.

Jack Whittacker was wealthy before he hit the Powerball Jackpot for 314 million dollars. On Christmas day 2002, he took the lump sum of $113 million after taxes.  He gave $7 million to churches and also donated money to a little league and other children's charities. 

But today his wife claims the money didn't enhance their lives. "I wish all of this never would have happened," Jewel Whittaker told a reporter for the Charleston Gazette. "I wish I would have torn the ticket up."

Not only is Jack in trouble, the couple's 17-year old granddaughter is missing.  Police believe she wasn't kidnapped.  Investigators are still looking into the death of one of her friends at the Whittaker's house. There have also been numerous thefts reported at the family's house, office and cars (Whittaker apparently was a high stakes gambler therefore he kept hundreds of thousands of dollars just lying around).  

Last year Whittaker told the Associated Press that he had been bombarded with requests for money and the fame was taking a toll on his family.  Little did he know how much of a toll.

Isnt this story amazing?  But it's also not that surprising. Greed and money can be powerful forces.  They eat away at our hearts and minds like acid.  What makes the bitterness even worse is that the victim rarely sees the warnings before it devours his soul.

In many sermons and parables Jesus warned us about the evil influence of money.  He even cried with a rich man who refused to give up his assets to secure a place in heaven (Luke 18:24). 

I've often wondered why He gave money to people like that in the first place.  Why not give it to someone who would use it charitably, like me!  A good friend in Melbourne answered that question.  He said, "You know that verse which says He won't tempt us more than we can handle.  Maybe that's why you don't have it?" Enough said.

All of us make big plans and dream big, thinking we could avoid disasters like Jack Whitaker.  The reality is we would probably end up with many of the same challenges (hopefully not the drunk driving and the night clubs).  Mr. Whittaker's train wreck began when he felt like he needed more, so he bought a lottery ticket.  He was already wealthy.  He just didn't realize how wealthy he was.  I wonder if that will cross his mind when he's in rehab next month.  

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