What Would You Do With $1,000,000?

What would you do if someone gave you one million dollars?  I have heard this question asked many times in many different venues.  I will admit, I have thought about this myself on more than one occasion.  My answer was very different when I was young and newly married than what it would be today.

Originally, my thoughts revolved around taking care of my family. I thought about better vehicles, a house of our own, and travel vacations that would enhance the education of our children.  Later, it revolved around making my job of teaching more efficient, more comfortable. I wanted to add the latest technology to my classroom, to raise teacher salaries, and to have the resources I saw in other schools.

It is amazing how time can change your perspective.  My wife and I have really felt the need to begin reaching out to others that are less fortunate then ourselves. I believe God is moving us that direction; we just do not know where that will finally end up.  We have finally reached a point financially where we can be the one to pick up the tab, say, when I am out to coffee with a buddy or my wife is out to lunch with one of her friends. I have to admit, it is a nice feeling to be able to help others instead of them helping me.

One million dollars: It does not go as far as it did when I first thought about it.  Still, I know what I would do.  I would continue to look for ways to help.  And I think I would like it to be anonymous - kind of like an unknown super “Do-Gooder”.  My wallet would always have a several gift cards in it that would be ready to help in a situation of need.  It could be a grocery card, Walmart, or a Visa gift card. I could pay off a doctor bill here, a tuition payment there, a car repair bill that has someone wondering how they will get to work on Monday. There would be more gas for the stranger trying to get home, and food for the truly homeless guy that you pass every day to work. Christmas could still happen for the mother who works two jobs and is still barely keeping her kids fed.  

I am Fifty-Four. I have seen much and had many great experiences. But now I see there is more.  There are hundreds, no, thousands of people around me who need loved, who need hope. And in the best way I can, I just want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, $1,000,000 or not.

So, I shook my fist at Heaven

Said, "God, why don't You do something?"

He said, "I did, I created you"

“Do Something”

Songwriters: Matthew West

Published by Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.