|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 6:36:28 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
Is there any such thing as 'luck'? I know a lot of folks who use the terms 'lucky' or 'unlucky'. I know I have.
Do you believe in 'luck' or for that matter do you believe in 'bad luck' in reality?
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 9/27/2008 6:46:23 AM >
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 8:11:35 AM
|
|
|
drussell52
Posts: 208
Joined: 4/24/2008
From: Michigan
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
Is there any such thing as 'luck'? I know a lot of folks who use the terms 'lucky' or 'unlucky'. I know I have.
Do you believe in 'luck' or for that matter do you believe in 'bad luck' in reality?
Little-one, interesting question from various angles. Luck as supersticion, I try to shun that view as I liken it to the wise tales we have heard as Americans about "Friday the 13th" "walking under ladders" "stepping on sidewalk craks" etc etc. Luck or lucky in terms of what we as believers call daily bread, "rain falling on the just and unjust", "my fortune or good fortune" "daily bread" "lot in life" we may have the enriched or expanded view of what the world at large understands as luck. When Frank Sinnatra sang the standard, Luck, be a lady tonight, selfish ends were what is asked for in the lyrics to that song, so when we ask for things to primarily go for our advantage, and we do, to me, that falls in the realm of luck. Whe time permits I'm going to look up this whole issue of luck in the encyclopedia just to see its origins. You know, google has the thingh, are you feeling lucky, pertaining to searches, is that an Americanism if you will? I hope you have a day highlighted with God's ever-presence and peace in your heart and life, secondarily "good luck." (Drussell)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 10:14:58 AM
|
|
|
deermousie
Posts: 1905
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: offline
|
Excellent question, Little_1! It goes to the heart of "how does God run the universe?"
The fastest way I think for a person to become convinced about the luck issue is to go to www.biblegateway.com and do a word search on "lots" - it's modern equivalent is dice! Yeah, really! People in the OT used to discern God's will in something that had no evidence by throwing lots (and I don't know what lots are exactly; it has the idea of multiple possible results). Even in the NT, when Judas betrayed Christ and then killed himself, they decided who would take his place as a disciple by throwing lots. It's all over the OT.
Shocked? I was, when I first stumbled across this. But even Proverbs says it's from God:
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
You can take this a step further (if you're still with me; this is an earth-shaking idea and takes some getting used to) and look at Rom. 8:29, 30 - it says:
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
No chance here, but God's intentions and power to pull things off just the way He planned to. I notice that it refers to predestination only in the realm of Christian salvation, justification, and glorification, so I'm not quick to spread this over the whole universe, but it is suggestive.
Oh, wait, there's 2 Kings 19:25, ; where God tells Isaiah the prophet (yes, that Isaiah) to tell King Hezekiah:
'Have you not heard?
Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
now I have brought it to pass.
So there's more operating here for us to dig into and discover. 
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 10:28:00 AM
|
|
|
Paymeister
Posts: 29
Joined: 10/13/2007
Status: offline
|
Matthew 10:29-31 says, Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
James 4: 13-15 says, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
So from the trivial, through all of the circumstances of each day, to one's very life, it is God's will that loads your buffet plate each day. HE knows how much you need, of which item, and He dishes it up for your benefit (or not necessarily for you benefit if you're not in the covenant, to be accurate, but it is still God loading plates for everyone). Lots more verses, but I need to get to work (hey, God put this thread on my plate along with digging post holes).
Luck? None at all. Providence? Oceansful!
AND... what we always need to remember is that our assessment is short-sighted and self-centered. God knows what He's doing, and He pulls the strings for our benefit. Some of the most uncomfortable times in my life were used by Him to knock off some of my rough edges: while any outside observer would call such times "unlucky", in hindsight I would call such episodes wonderful and I thank God I went through them. So watch how you're evaluating your circumstances.
What I've used to help encourage myself in trying times is to imagine God opening the books once I get to heaven, and showing me ALL of the ramifications of what was going on in my life during those tough times - in my life, and in the lives of those I had some contact with during that time and afterwards. If I could comprehend all of what was going on (ha), and had the wisdom to understand God's plan in it (again, ha), I would cheer - because I would be able to see that His plan was the best. Soooo, rather than wait 'til then (and seeing as how I will lack the ability to comprehend or understand as God does anyway), I'll just cheer right now in faith.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 11:03:27 AM
|
|
|
iamjc-s
Posts: 350
Joined: 8/1/2007
Status: offline
|
Good luck ignores that blessings are from above.
Bad luck ignores that God works EVERYTHING out for good.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 11:26:38 AM
|
|
|
bob97
Posts: 1977
Joined: 6/24/2006
From: Kansas
Status: offline
|
God guides my life and takes care of my needs. He protects me from unplanned mishaps and allows for my prosperity. He knows the days of my life and of course when I face a situation which would interfere with my future He protects me from harm. God answers my pleas for help and gives me aid and instruction and peace in times of peril.
I am convinced that God does have an angel that is always with me and in general cares for me…but not in all things. (Hebrews 1:14)
So there is luck in life that intervenes regarding small issues. If I’m playing golf and putting, God is not guiding my ball into the hole (unless it is an important issue to Him) that ball falling into the hole is a matter of my skills and luck.
Bob
_____________________________
The LORD clears the road for me!
The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 11:53:07 AM
|
|
|
mvic
Posts: 1612
Joined: 1/17/2008
Status: offline
|
I'm scared of bad luck. That's why I NEVER walk under a black cat. Or break a mirror whilst on a ladder.
Seriously though ... there is such a thing as opportunities. Opportunities come your way and if you are alert about them you take them and things change for the better. I'd like to think God places these opportunities our way for His purpose as it were. Not so much coincidence - more God incidence.
Then there's chance events. Like winning the lottery against all odds. There is no luck at all in this - just pure law of probability. Someone has to win - it could be you, me or anyone else.
So in summary: No, I don't believe in luck - good, bad or indifferent. Just in case however, I never walk slowly infront of a fast vehicle.
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 2:36:48 PM
|
|
|
terryjohn
Posts: 468
Joined: 3/23/2007
Status: offline
|
I remember being told by a Christian when I was about 18, that there was no such thing as luck. At the time, I was not a christian, and I always remember being confused as to what he meant, because if any one was lucky, I was. I think what he meant was, that God blesses both the believer and unbeliever alike. Nevertheless, the blessing of an unbeliever can be seen as a curse if they do not give thanks for it and believe. Scripture says that God knows how to preserve the wicked until judgement and He does this simply by not letting them see the danger they are in. That is, if He were to withdraw His blessings and the wicked were to see the consequences of their sinfulness, they are everyone else would see, repent and learn not to take the blessings of God for granted.
In terms of the will of God and predestination, you would have to say there is no such thing as luck.
However, in purely secular terms men understand the term well, but to say , "You will be lucky to make it to heaven." is nonsensical given luck has got nothing to do with it.
I must admit that it was a very clever thing to say to me for now some thirty years later I still remember his saying it and even where he said it.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 4:55:52 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: deermousie
Excellent question, Little_1! It goes to the heart of "how does God run the universe?"
The fastest way I think for a person to become convinced about the luck issue is to go to www.biblegateway.com and do a word search on "lots" - it's modern equivalent is dice! Yeah, really! People in the OT used to discern God's will in something that had no evidence by throwing lots (and I don't know what lots are exactly; it has the idea of multiple possible results). Even in the NT, when Judas betrayed Christ and then killed himself, they decided who would take his place as a disciple by throwing lots. It's all over the OT.
Shocked? I was, when I first stumbled across this. But even Proverbs says it's from God:
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
You can take this a step further (if you're still with me; this is an earth-shaking idea and takes some getting used to) and look at Rom. 8:29, 30 - it says:
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
No chance here, but God's intentions and power to pull things off just the way He planned to. I notice that it refers to predestination only in the realm of Christian salvation, justification, and glorification, so I'm not quick to spread this over the whole universe, but it is suggestive.
Oh, wait, there's 2 Kings 19:25, ; where God tells Isaiah the prophet (yes, that Isaiah) to tell King Hezekiah:
'Have you not heard?
Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
now I have brought it to pass.
So there's more operating here for us to dig into and discover.
This is interesting. I googled "casting lots in the Bible" and came up with the following link:
Casting lots
Now I realise where certain ideas such as pulling straws, etc comes from. Thanks deermousie.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 5:06:22 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Paymeister
......James 4: 13-15 says, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.......
Luck? None at all. Providence? Oceansful!
I started filling in the outline of a book I am working on today and the text for the chapter I was working on early this afternoon was, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away....." (James 4:14). I couldn't remember where the text was found and when I logged on here to check this thread this afternoon (as a break in the middle of the first chapter) here was the text right here in one of the first posts I read on this thread. Okay, so I could have used a concordance but I'm glad I didn't! This way of finding it was more special and to me was confirmation from the Holy Spirit that I am on the right track with the book.
Luck - No. Providence and guidance - Yes, I believe so! I haven't heard that text mentioned nor quoted anywhere in ages.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 9/27/2008 5:13:41 PM >
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 5:31:04 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: deermousie
......Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
You can take this a step further (if you're still with me; this is an earth-shaking idea and takes some getting used to) and look at Rom. 8:29, 30 - it says:
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
No chance here, but God's intentions and power to pull things off just the way He planned to. I notice that it refers to predestination only in the realm of Christian salvation, justification, and glorification, so I'm not quick to spread this over the whole universe, but it is suggestive.
Oh, wait, there's 2 Kings 19:25, ; where God tells Isaiah the prophet (yes, that Isaiah) to tell King Hezekiah:
'Have you not heard?
Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
now I have brought it to pass.
So there's more operating here for us to dig into and discover.
Indeed. 
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is there any such thing as 'Luck'? - 9/27/2008 5:32:21 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: sparkleingsnow
......Are some things random? I don't know, but I do know that there are spirital forces at work all the time. (Good and bad.) God is in control over all, and that's all I need to know.
True.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
