I watched a show about people who won the lottery last week. My wife asked me what I would do if I won millions of dollars. I told her I would love to fund a school in Africa to educate and equip children in life both physically and spiritually. What would you do with millions of dollars?

I also think often about how I can spend the little money I do have. I think of cool electronics, new CD's, or tools that I would like to buy. I have a running list in my head of what I can save money for. What do you think about spending your cash on?

A passage in the book of Haggai brought these two things together for me. Whether you have one million dollars or ten dollars it should be spent with purpose. We always dream about how we could help the world with millions of dollars but what are we doing right now with the money we have? Start adding up all the times you spent $10 on yourself over the past several years. Think about how much money that would be. If you had spent it with greater purpose it quite possibly could have changed peoples lives!

"Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." (1:5-6)

When we spend money on ourselves we always feel like it isn't enough. We will earn more so that we can buy another t-shirt, eat at Moe's again, or see that new movie. Then when it's time to spend money for God our wallet is empty.

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (1:9)

I'm left with a lump in my throat and a deep realization that the way I spend money is more about my house than God's. I have fallen short of investing what God has given me back into his Kingdom. God's Kingdom is about the orphans and widows. It's about the children and the homeless. It's about living with radical passion for meeting spiritual and physical needs of people all over the world.

All that we spend money on apart from the Kingdom of God will blow away. We need to stop the busyness of building our lives by what we earn and start building the lives of those in need. If I had set aside the money for every purchase I didn't need 10 years ago when I got out of H.S. I estimate I would have around $100,000. That would be enough to start a school in Africa.

So here I am with a passion and a great cause, but no money. I spent it on my house instead of God's.

Will you take a new start with me? Will you start saving the money you would have spent on you and save it for a greater cause? Then when God gives us an opportunity to spend it on those that need it our wallet will be full and ready.

This story in Haggai has an ending of hope. The people obeyed the Lord and returned to work on the house of God.

I still hope that by God's grace I can build that school someday.

- Josh