I was recently introduced to a new cereal. At least it was new to me. I think ever since I can remember my favorite cereal was frosted shredded wheat. Anyway, one day Amanda (my wife) and I were walking through the grocery store and we get to the cereal aisle and I head for the shredded wheat, but Amanda has a different cereal in mind. She shoves off a few eight year olds that were huddled around one particular cereal and she brings to the shopping cart a box of lucky charms. I told her, “you have to be kidding.” I look down the aisle and I see a child screaming I want “lucky charms,” as the mother quickly whisks the child away. So seeing that commotion I knew I had better get the lucky charms. Now I have never had lucky charms before and to be honest I really wasn’t that excited at the time. So later, Amanda and I are in front of our tv in the evening getting to watch a show, and we decide to have cereal as a snack. Amanda convinces me to act like a child for once and try lucky charms. I couldn’t believe it. It was great! Man… I had been missing out all these years. I highly recommend it as a cereal.
From a very early age we seemed to be shaped and cultured to think highly of this concept of luck. My first kitty when I was eight was named “lucky.” I named her that because while we were walking to see some free kittens I found a penny. It was heads up. Of course we all know that it is good luck to find a penny heads up. So I named her lucky. Ironically, I later trained her to play fetch with me with a lucky rabbit’s foot.
So very early we have this concept of luck. We have probably all seen what things are symbols of good luck: four leaf clovers, a lucky rabbit’s foot, a penny found, horseshoes, crossing your fingers, eating black eyed peas on New Years Eve. And probably have seen things that are bad luck too: breaking a mirror, black cat that cross your path, opening an umbrella indoors, walking under a ladder, spilling salt (reversed by tossing salt over left shoulder.)
Or perhaps we have walked up to someone and they say “wish me luck” and we say, “good luck” or if you are in the on stage theater or music, they say “break a leg” which doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.
Or the opposite is cursing or wishing bad on someone else. Like if you have a snobby friend, you in your head my say, “I hope she falls on stage.”
Whatever it is, at one time or another, we probably have had a brush with luck. Luck is defined as a force that brings good fortune or adversity.
The question is, what is that force? What is this thing we call luck and more importantly what does God say about luck?
We all want good things to happen to us. Even in our roots deep within us we have this concept or idea that there are forces that are with us and there are forces that are against us.
There are several problems with luck that we should be aware of.
1. First, if luck is defined as force that brings good fortune or adversity then which force is it? Sometimes this concept of luck borderlines on belief in the occult. This is terribly displeasing to God because it is idolism. I am talking about things like taroh cards, ouiji boards, magic eight balls, witchcraft, spells, etc.
These things should not be anywhere near us. Even if you don’t believe, we should not come close to dabbling in these things. The enemy uses these things as a foot hold in our spirit. It is like locking all the doors in your house but leaving the back door open with a sign that reads “door is open!” By using these things, it is like we give permission for the enemy access to our hearts. Belief in an unbridled luck is just dangerous.
2. There are people that will exploit luck to their profit or advantage. One place that is good at exploiting luck are casinos. They tell you come and get lucky at the casino and you will win big. Who doesn’t want to win? If it was all based on luck then the casino would take the risk. As it is the casino know well it isn’t luck, but they are willing to expoit our belief in luck for profit.
Take a look at the rabbit’s foot. Somebody made a bunch of money. They say that the only luck that a rabbit’s foot brings is bad luck for the rabbit. Again an exploit for our want of luck.
What if I went outside and painted a rock? I bet I could make a bunch of money… wait they did that already didn’t they? Pet rocks.
3. Thirdly, when we explain away positive moments in our life to luck, we deny the will of God. Think about this for a moment. My senior year in high school, some of you might not know that I was a drum major in the marching band. From the time I was a freshman, I wanted to be a drum major. The leader, the one that sets the tempo and directs 300 band members in performances. Drum majors were leaders, and I wanted to be one. My junior year I tried out. I didn’t make it. I was upset. I decided that I would work extremely hard so that the following year there would be no denying that I should have been chosen. I would turn the radio on loud and practice conducting to the beat. I would practice my voice commands and marching when no body was around. I worked hard for it. My senior year I tried out once again. Guess what. This time I made it. This however made a lot of people mad. There was no doubt that there were better musicians better than me with a lot more musical talent. But I was chosen because I was a better leader. However there were those who said I just had a really good try out, I just had good luck. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like that because I knew it wasn’t luck. It was because I worked hard and practiced and God had given me gifts of leadership. How would you feel in that case?
Or it is like if my friend Joe gets me a gift. I open it and it’s a new sweater. I don’t say, “wow I am so lucky I got a sweater!” No, Joe gave it to me!
Now think of God. God has a will for our lives. God is in control. God blesses us and God gives us favor. Yet there are times when we just say, “oh, I just had good luck today.” I am still alive. I didn’t get in a car accident. I found a twenty dollar bill. I got a raise. I got a good grade on my test. I have just had a great lucky streak. If God is in control of all things… then how does God receive it when we essentially say, God didn’t do it… luck did.
Well, we can see what God thinks about this in the bible? I wasn’t too surprised that God does have something to say about luck. See how the following verses might apply to what we have been talking about.
Take a look with me at Isaiah 65:11-16 - "but as for you who forsake the lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for destiny, 12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."
13 therefore this is what the sovereign lord says:
"my servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14 my servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. 15 you will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse; the sovereign lord will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. 16 whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth.
You might notice something peculiar with these words if you are reading out of your bibles. What do you notice? In the NIV bibles that we are using there are two words that are capitalized. The first is fortune and the second is destiny. Let me explain what is going on here. At first this may seem pretty hard to get a hold of but let’s break it down. Fortune is captizalized in our bibles because it is a proper noun.
Now if you have a KJV of the Bible then you might have the words troop and number. The reason these words are capizalized is because they refer to names. Specifically, to the God “gad” who is troop. Gad is the God of fortune. The other God here is “meiny”, who is the God of destiny. You see there is a very interesting play on words that takes place here in scripture. It is kind of humorous in a way. Read with me. In verse 12 the word used is destine. So there is a play on words. Essentially, if you put you faith in meiny then God is going to manah you to the sword. Manah is destiny but the destiny that God provides. You might remember the food that the Israelites ate as they were being led out of Egypt by Moses. They ate manah which was God allotment or provision for them. [read from the message]
The book of isaiah then goes on to tell the difference between the servants of God who put their faith in him, and the servants of luck, fortune and destiny. (verses 13-16) I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses, my mind thinks about gambling. Look at the results of those who trust in the lord, and those who trust in fortune and luck.
Because of gambling, families go hungry, thirsty, they are in despair. Now I am not here to talk about gambling but we can see the results when we put our faith in luck.
We can see here that this is a matter that is important to God. Remember last week we talk about reality spirituality. That means that every word we say should mean something. I have found that many times I say things just because it is a habit. Let me give you an example.
Last week I walked into sac-n-pac before work and bought my usual 20 oz. Coffee. I ran into a couple of our church members. Lisa, Bea and Bradley Tanksley were getting a morning snack. Bradley let me know that he was having a job interview. In that split second, without hesitation, I said, “well, good luck on your job interview.” Keep in mind that this was last week. I had already been working on this sermon. I just cringed that I had just said it. Reality spirituality would say that we should mean what we say. We do things sometimes and we don’t even know what we are saying.
Even the secular world wants good things to happen to them. Even atheists will say “good luck” as if there is some force beyond their control. I am here to say that today is “your lucky day.” Today we are going to change the history of luck.
I don’t know about you, but I want what I say and what I believe to mean something. I want it to count! So here is what I would like us to do. Reality spirituality says we need to talk about real applicable steps that each of us can take when it comes to our spiritual journeys.
So here is the key: “if you are looking for luck, find favor.” Repeat that with me. God doesn’t work with luck, fate or destiny as the secular world sees it. God works through favor!
God wants the very best for his children. He wants the best for those who believe in him. I don’t necessarily like the way this sounds, but you could almost say we have an advantage. We have God’s power on our side. We are on his team and all we have to do is claim that power into our lives. God’s favor is upon us. This has nothing to do with luck, some imaginary force that decides whether or not we will have a positive or negative outcome. We have gods favor.
Favor means that we get preferential treatment. Yet so often we explain it away to luck, destiny, fate or fortune. God is in control in all of that.
So often we think luck is just a feeling. If good things happen then I am having good luck. If bad things happen then I am having an unlucky day. Some people go through life and mistaken “poverty thinking” and bad luck. They might say, “I am just an unlucky person, nothing good ever happens to me.” “This is the best I will ever get.” Feeling lucky or unlucky is just plain bad news and represents a defeated attitude. Jeremiah 29:11-12 - I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
“Good luck” moments are opportunities to pray. Think about it. Almost every time we are in a situation where it is appropriate to say good luck, it is an opportunity we could pray for someone. You run into someone and they say, I have a job interview, don’t say good luck, pray for them. If someone says I have a test today, don’t say good luck, say a prayer for them.
Instead of saying “good luck” say, “may the favor of God be with you. We need to get out of the habit of saying “good luck.” We don’t want our words to be meaningless. We don’t want to say things we don’t mean. I know that you don’t really mean to say “good luck” when you know that God is the one who is in control. As a parent, we should be careful what is said to our children. Have fun with it. It is kinda like starwars. You know Luke Skywalker “may the force be with you.” We say “may the favor of God be with you.”
Furthermore, think about the testimony it is to other people. Say you are around your friends and they say, “wish me luck!” Won’t it be a surprise when you say back to them. “May the favor God be with you.” When you say that, there is no denying where your faith stands. They may even ask, “What do you mean favor of God?” You can tell them about how to get God’s favor. “May the favor of God be with you.” It’s even a greeting or a farewell. “May the favor of God be with you.”
Next time you are in one of those situations, instead of saying “good luck,” say let me pray for you.
seek God’s favor. God blesses his children. If you are a parent, don’t you want the best for your children. Good news. God wants the best for his children.
James 1:16-17 - don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Seek out his blessing. Don’t go through life with lies of defeat. God doesn’t love me. God must be against me. I am just an unlucky person. This is poverty thinking. We probably all have experienced times like this when we have felt down and out. Stop it. You are God’s. You are his. God has special favor in store for you. You are not like the rest of the world. You are a child of God.
How do we get God’s favor? First, we need to become children of God. John 1:12-13 - yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
This is done by accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and the one who died so that we could be restored to a relationship with God. All those past things, all the sins in our life are paid for by a sacrifice that Jesus made on a cross.
So if you are looking to find God’s favor, we start by giving our hearts to lord. This is done by a simple prayer. A prayer of forgiveness and commitment to the lord. It goes something like this. I would like everyone to repeat after me. That way those who are really praying this prayer won’t feel any pressure or uncomfortable. So repeat after me.
Heavenly father I ask for forgiveness, for the things that I have done in my life, that sinned against you. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose from the grave. I now ask that you come in to my heart. Thank you for your sacrifice. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer then you have a new life in Christ. As children of God we can anticipate God’s favor. He wants to bless you. I am not talking about a positive attitude, something that we do. I am talking about the blessings God is going to give us simply because we are his.
If there is something to overcome, we don’t say “wish me luck.” No! We take our request to God almighty. And we go through life knowing that we have God on our side. When we are victorious we praise and thank him. When things don’t seem to go our way we yield to his will. You never know when that green light changed to red making you five minutes late kept you from a car accident. Go forth in God’s favor, knowing his grace is for you. Share that favor with others.
Remember, looking for luck find favor. May the favor of God be with you!
