A few weeks ago, while doing errands for a friend’s wedding I encountered what seemed like a bad predicament. In my hast that morning to do the assignments given me, I failed to put my wallet in my pocket or get the lose change from the pants I had worn the day before. I did though have the money needed to purchase the items I was assigned to get for the wedding. As I was paying for the items, it suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t have my wallet. There I was 6 or 7 train stations from my point of origin and to get there would cost 15 pesos. I dug into my backpack and was joyously relieved to find 18 pesos. Feeling very lucky, I walked to the train station, my precious 18 pesos in hand. As I was crossing the street to enter the station’s terminal my arm was bumped and a 5 peso coin flew out of my hand, and began rolling away. In disbelief I scampered after the rolling coin. As I was about to grab it, it rolled into the sewer. What luck, now I was 2 pesos shy of getting on the train. I had to walk two train stations over to grab a train worth 12 pesos.
Many of my friends got a kick and had a laugh about my experience. But those minutes I spent walking to the other station gave me the chance to sync up with God. I started thinking about luck and destiny. Was it my bad luck that I dropped that coin? Perhaps the kid on the other side of the sewer was praying for 5 pesos?
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “luck” as follows: “1. A chance happening of fortunate or adverse events. 2. Good fortune or prosperity; success . . .to gain success or something desirable by chance: lucked out in finding that rare book.”
There are numerous stories in the Bible of random happenings to people: Ruth falls in love with the rich farmer Boaz; Joseph is sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt and there sold into slavery; King Ahab is killed by a stray arrow. And just think of Job and his many trails. And then there’s us: car won’t start; computer fails; cell phone breaks down; a prize is won; a seemingly good relationship is terminated; failing or passing the Board Exam; the list goes on. It’s then we may find ourselves questioning God’s lack of blessings or praise Him for His generosity. Is God really in control?
Proverbs 16:33 presents an interesting truth: “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.” Is something as random as the rolling of a pair of dice or the tossing of a coin outside God’s control? Are the results not merely chance?
Solomon penned that without God in control, life seemed only a matter of good and bad luck (Eccl. 9:11-12), which to him was meaningless. He had to learn how God can order things for His divine purpose. Any event in life, no matter how small (Matthew 10:29-31) or how large (Proverbs 21:1), is under God’s sovereign control (Psalm 115:3). Therefore nothing is merely the matter of chance.
As Christians the word “luck” shouldn’t be in our vocabulary. We are given the promise that God works all things for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
God grants us blessings, tests, and yes, even some hardships to mold our characters that we may be more loving and forgiving; that we may become more Christlike. So next time you’re wondering why this or that happened; remember God’s in control and continue to search for His will that you may be part of His greater plan.
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