Everything starts out new once, and so did the Mazda RX7 advertised in the Farmington newspaper. It said low miles, great condition, and that it had been won on a game show, so that the asking price was the suggested retail of the car. Couldn't say if the price was good or bad, but in 1989 $11,995 was a lot of money for me-for any car. So driven more by curiosity, I went to look at it.
Sitting by itself in the garage, was a new, red 1986 Mazda RX7. Not quite the car I had envisioned from seeing them in ads. Still it had the window sticker on it, and after he let me sit in it, it had less than 100 miles on it. This man, the husband, told me how he had won the car on Wheel of Fortune, and couldn't drive a clutch, so the car was for sale. And based on it being a new car with a history, was "only" asking for the sticker price. Now red sports cars have always attracted me, and this being the first year of the new body style, I had read about them but never saw one. And this one was probably rarer than he even knew. It was the most basic car, with no options. Cheapo interior, tiny tires, no radio or a/c, and it even looked cheap. This was the ad car to get you into to buy one you would actually show off to your neighbors, not the one you would buy. And my best guess is that it would not sell very soon. Particularly at the price, and only a die hard fan of Vanna White would fork over the money for it. And although I believed he wanted the money, it seemed his wife wanted the car, she was standing behind him not wanting to sell it, but to drive it. But the old guy thought he had a gold mine, or at least a gold nugget, so it was for sale. And sadly, neither one would enjoy the prize.
I watched the movie "The Jackpot" for a hile when drying off yesterday. Jimmy Stewart won $24,000 worth of prizes-big money in 1950, and he and his wife, Barbara Hale, aka Della Street on Perry Mason,(Paul was right when he called her Beautiful) and ended up selling what they could to meet the IRS tax imposed on the winnings. And it was funny, but sort of sad, for although they won, they too never enjoyed the spoils of victory. Next time you watch a game show, and it says contestants must meet eligibility requirements, one of them is they can afford to pay the taxes, usually about 28% off the top, to win the prizes. For example, you win a $10,000 trip-which is billed at retail. Checking with a travel agent would get you the same trip for about $6000. And after paying your tax, about $2800, you actually get the trip. Maybe a good deal, if you won enough cash to cover it. And you will get a 1099 form for your other winnings. Taxed as income. Like the man says, there is no free lunch. And don't forget to leave the tip.
So when Coach Lombardi said "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," he forgot about the tax man. Remember-the IRS thinks they are the only thing. Or at least, the first and most important.
When the economy tanked in 2008, I talked with many men who lost a lot, some everything. Good men, Christian men, who when they watched their fortunes eroded, would quote the Bible, the one about where it's all going to burn anyway. And I wondered, did they feel the same way when they were earning it? Did they work so hard just to have it burn, someday? Were these entrepreneurs really that Bible savvy that they believed then that it would all burn someday, and build the wealth anyway? Who would build a house knowing it would burn? Who would build a house on a cliff, knowing it would slide into the Pacific? Who would...? Get it?
We can be so blessed by God, but when the things own us, the blessings have faded. And whether it is a car, motorcycle, a house, or vacation, winning at all costs is not winning. When the price it exacts gets between you and God, and the house owns you, and you have to sell it, first prize is no prize at all. Truly, cars get old and depreciate, house values will go up, then down, and while you continue to make payments, they own you. And what if what you won isn't what you really wanted?
Remember the free lunch? The only one truly free was when Jesus fed the 5000. He met the needs-for free. And still will and still does today. Lottery winners, or those who gamble, history tells us the money will be a curse. You see winning is one thing, not the only thing. Collecting and enjoying far surpass it. Instead seek the peace that only Jesus can provide. There is no such thing as luck, only divine providence. So ask God, who loves to give good gifts. A yes, well, it means you can handle it. No, well, it may just may ended up handling you. And He may have something better in mind.
Just ask the lady who couldn't drive her RX7. She won, but now was paying the price. Sometimes second place is not first loser, and first is not the only thing! So seek God first, and He'll add everything you need to your life. He offers an option list that no other god can offer. And give you your heart's desire.
Sorry Vanna, I'll keep the $500, you can keep the vowel. And that free lunch, it may be more expensive across the street, but it's what I really want. Be careful what you ask for, for like Mark Twain once said, "the only thing worse than not getting your heart's content is getting your heart's content." Just another lesson from how to read the want ads. Jesus Christ-the only jackpot!
love with compassion,
Mike
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