A 39-year-old man from the village of Mattishall, Norfolk, recently made headlines with a story that sparks deep reflection. After buying a scratch card from a local corner shop in July, Adam Lopez, who worked as a forklift operator and had only £12.40 left in his bank account, won £1 million.
Upon receiving the unexpected prize, he made a hasty decision: he quit his job and began celebrating non-stop. For three months, he lived a life of excess, indulging in parties, food and drink without restraint. But the consequences soon caught up with him.
“It allowed me to live a bit of a life I’ve never lived, but I think I went the wrong way about it. It was enjoyable until my health became an issue,” Adam told the BBC. On 10 September, he was rushed to hospital, where he was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolism.
He recalls, “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t breathe. I rang the ambulance; I got wheeled into it and the biggest life-changing thing I had was laying in the back of that ambulance and hearing the sirens.”
Fortunately, Adam survived. Yet, his story carries profound spiritual lessons that many people overlook. The Bible states: “An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.” (Proverbs 20:21). In other words, receiving something prematurely can turn into a curse rather than a blessing.
When someone acquires something they lack the structure to manage, what could have been a blessing may end up working against them. Everything you try to rush in your life bypassing the necessary steps will eventually collapse due to its lack of a solid foundation. In contrast, those who build on a firm base will never fall.
The Lord Jesus illustrated this truth with a powerful image: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25).
When your life is built upon obedience to the Word of God, no storm can destroy what you have created. True success is not about how quickly you achieve something, but it’s about how deeply your life is rooted in God.
At the Universal Church, we hold daily faith-building meetings focused on various areas of life that can help you lay your path on the unshakeable foundation of God’s Word. Here, you will discover true strength, divine wisdom and lasting peace – treasures that no earthly possession can ever provide. Click here for our full timetable and join us at your nearest branch.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7xgwpy3yo
