Luck or the Lord?
As some of you are aware, I enjoy playing tennis. During nearly every match I hear an opponent (or someone on an adjoining court) exclaim, “I was lucky on that shot!" In fact, many people tend to describe fortunate occurrences as "lucky".
I often said the same thing until a mature Christian corrected me years ago. He said, "When you attribute something to luck, ‘fate’ receives the credit. But when you say that you are ‘blessed', God gets the glory." I have tried to remember that. Christians should attribute every fortunate occurrence to God, not "luck".
The story is told of a town that had a large whiskey distillery that was owned by an atheist. The churches in town were openly critical of the distillery and it’s products. The churches eventually combined for a special prayer meeting, beseeching God to do something about the distillery. During the meeting, a violent thunderstorm approached the town, lightning struck the distillery, and it quickly burned to the ground, alcohol and all.
The unhappy owner, learning that a prayer meeting had occurred the night his distillery burned down, decided to sue the churches. He claimed that they had conspired with God to put him out of business. During the trial, representatives from the churches denied being guilty in connection with the lightening and subsequent fire. They essentially attributed the lightning to a "stroke of unfortunate luck".
Although the presiding judge purportedly found the churches innocent of the "divine conspiracy" charge, he concluded the trial with the following remarks. "I find it ironic that the plaintiff, an admitted atheist, has professed faith in the power of prayer. Conversely, the Christians, who claim faith in God, assert that bad luck was responsible for the fire. It leaves me wondering who really believes in God."
I do not believe in luck, but I know that God blesses me constantly and abundantly. I’m sure that you feel the same. May God be praised forever!
“Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Phil 4:20)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
As some of you are aware, I enjoy playing tennis. During nearly every match I hear an opponent (or someone on an adjoining court) exclaim, “I was lucky on that shot!" In fact, many people tend to describe fortunate occurrences as "lucky".
I often said the same thing until a mature Christian corrected me years ago. He said, "When you attribute something to luck, ‘fate’ receives the credit. But when you say that you are ‘blessed', God gets the glory." I have tried to remember that. Christians should attribute every fortunate occurrence to God, not "luck".
The story is told of a town that had a large whiskey distillery that was owned by an atheist. The churches in town were openly critical of the distillery and it’s products. The churches eventually combined for a special prayer meeting, beseeching God to do something about the distillery. During the meeting, a violent thunderstorm approached the town, lightning struck the distillery, and it quickly burned to the ground, alcohol and all.
The unhappy owner, learning that a prayer meeting had occurred the night his distillery burned down, decided to sue the churches. He claimed that they had conspired with God to put him out of business. During the trial, representatives from the churches denied being guilty in connection with the lightening and subsequent fire. They essentially attributed the lightning to a "stroke of unfortunate luck".
Although the presiding judge purportedly found the churches innocent of the "divine conspiracy" charge, he concluded the trial with the following remarks. "I find it ironic that the plaintiff, an admitted atheist, has professed faith in the power of prayer. Conversely, the Christians, who claim faith in God, assert that bad luck was responsible for the fire. It leaves me wondering who really believes in God."
I do not believe in luck, but I know that God blesses me constantly and abundantly. I’m sure that you feel the same. May God be praised forever!
“Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Phil 4:20)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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