The Luck of the Irish

The Luck of the Irish

           The word ‘luck’, according to Webster means, “a force that brings good fortune, or events that operate for or against a person.  What is this force that so many people believe in?

            Most speak of luck as good or bad.  Even many Christians believe in luck.  Here are some of the things that people use to bring them ‘good luck’.

• Lucky horseshoe
• A penny
• A good luck charm
• Statues of religious figures
• Crystals
• The number 7

     These are just a few of the things that people carry; they kiss them or rub them for luck.  The truth of it is that luck is nothing more than superstition.  If a born-again believer is superstitious he or she better examine their faith.  Christians are called to trust in God almighty, not a superstitious force called ‘luck’.  Pagans and heathen base their whole religion on superstition.
      The word, ‘luck’, is not found in the Holy Bible, but there are things which appear to be a form of gambling such as the casting of lots (dice).  In Old Testament times, different items were used to determine the will of God, or to hear a word from him.  One such method was the URIM and Thummim; objects Israel and the high priest used to determine God’s will.  They were sacred lots that were used to inquire of the Lord.  There were times when God did not give an answer through them, but only through prophets, visions and dreams.  God never spoke to the Israelites by ‘luck’.
      King Saul sought the spirit of Samuel, the Prophet, through a witch, because God no longer answered Saul through Urim or dreams, (I Samuel 28:6-25).  God was not pleased with Saul’s actions and the Lord departed from Saul and became his enemy.
      Today the majority of the world believes in ‘luck’.  Around St. Patrick's Day, we hear of the lucky shamrock, the leprechaun and the ‘luck of the Irish’, who were and are a very superstitious people.  How many times do we wish people “good luck”?  When something good comes our way we say, “This is my lucky day”.  If we gamble and lose, we say, “I had bad luck.”  If we win we say, “I had good luck today.”  Obviously, we seem to judge so many things, good and bad, by luck. 
      You probably won’t believe this, but ‘luck’ is a form of witchcraft just as much as the Irish leprechaun; a mythical creature who supposedly reveals where a pot of gold is hidden. Superstition is also witchcraft; Friday, the 13^th is an unlucky day, as is walking under a ladder, having black cat cross your path.  It’s really a bunch of nonsense.  God wants us to practice faith, not luck.
      Faith is the central concept of Christianity.  A true Christian is one who has faith.  God has always called his people to obedience.  To accept the responsibilities of God’s covenant was to trust His word that says He along is God and to commit one’s life to His promises for the present and future.  That is faith, meaning “trust” or “confidence” in God.
      “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)  In other words, faith is what we believe, it is Christianity itself, but primarily it is the relationship we have with God through what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection.  Depending on luck is the equivalent of depending on voodoo.  Just roll some chicken bones out on the floor and how they fall will tell you how your day is going.  Luck is also comparable to astrology, psychics, tarot cards and the like.  It is depending on a force that is not from God. 
      Buying lottery tickets, playing Bingo, sending in to Publisher’s Clearing House, going to a casino are not sins.  The sin is depending on luck to help you win.  The truth is; someone will win and you may be the one, but that is a ‘possibility, not luck.  Gambling may not be a sin, but some spend all they have because they think it may be their lucky day.  Some may not give God their ‘first fruit’, but use it for games.
      I have found that trusting in God’s promises have given me everything I need.  One day I read in Malachi 3:10, "And all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”   He said to try him and we did about 30 years ago and he has supplied all our needs since that time.  He has blessed us in more ways than I can count.  I choose to trust in Him and not in ‘luck’. 
       Who, or what, are you depending on today?  Ask God to help you depend on him to supply your needs.  The wonderful part in trusting God and having faith in what he can do, can be summed up in these words:  “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26