Luck — Is There Anything to It?
Be Strong, Be Well — Friday, October 16, 2020
According to a news story, a Canadian woman traveled to the ancient city of Pompeii in 2005. She stole some historical artifacts. Now in a panic she has returned them to the travel agency she used back then, saying the items have brought her “bad Luck.”
She decided these artifacts were the reason for several unfortunate events, including her being diagnosed with breast cancer. She may be adding arrest and prosecution to the list of “unfortunate events” as the artifacts have been turned over to the authorities.
Dictionary.com defines “luck” as “a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person.”
Some have said the Bible agrees with this. But was luck the wise man’s topic of discussion in Ecclesiastes 9:11, 12? “I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.”
First of all, luck is never mentioned in scripture. Solomon is talking about the world we live in and the uncertainty of the future. No matter what we might plan or hope for, we cannot know what the future holds. It has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with God (cf. James 4:13-15).
In the previous verse Solomon said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Solomon never entertained the idea of luck. In Ecclesiastes, the wise man writes about what a world would look like without God, then reminds us God sees and knows all things. Everything is under His control and according to His ultimate will.
No matter what we may plan or try to accomplish in this life, it’s all under the oversight of Almighty God. There will be successes, blessings, and happy days. But there will also be disappointments, unfortunate and tragic events, which bring sadness and grief. Time and chance happens to each of us. We must accept all circumstances as they come, using them as an opportunity to grow more hopeful and stronger in our faith. There is nothing to luck. It has no power. Trust in God and humbly submit to His will.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). — Chris