People who play the lotto or gamble compulsively don't realize that God micromanages the cosmos and superintends every creature and event under the sun as His divine sovereignty dictates; i.e., there is no such thing as chance, but a mathematical probability and it's blind, whereas God sees all--it is not an entity and it's corollary, luck, is dumb (whereas God is omniscient), and fortune is a way to avoid the word blessing! I realize some people's retirement plan is to win the lottery, but this is vain and contrary to the Word, where we should be wise in stewardship and plan ahead while trusting in God, not our money to save and provide for us!
Is your security in your portfolio or in Providence? God is in control, for what kind of God wouldn't be: There is not one maverick molecule in the universe! Fate, by the way, is impersonal and even blind, whereas God is personal and involved with care in our lives. There's no such entity as good fortune, but God is good to all and blesses them either directly or by association. Do you ever say to yourself, "Let's not meet by accident [referring to a collision]!" Or even, "Fancy meeting you here!" We make mistakes and have accidents as humans, but God overrules and puts meaning in them--there's even meaning in suffering, which is God's megaphone to speak to us. God's cosmos is not random, but intricately designed and under control. It has been said that the entire universe is like one vast mathematical equation form God's mind.
God even works through diabolical events (cf. Acts 2:23, 4:28) such as the crucifixion to bring about blessings out of curses, and Joseph met his brothers and told them that, though they meant it for evil, God meant it for good! There are no flukes of nature or accidents of history--we must realize God's wisdom in allowing or causing them to happen. Wycliffe said, "All things come to pass of necessity." "The steps of a man are established by the LORD" (cf. Psa. 37:23). God's answer to happenstance is Providence and this is meant to be comforting and assuring that God reigns and rules overall. "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" (Eph. 1:11, NIV).
Nothing happens by chance or coincidence: There is no fortuitous event, but everything under the sun has purpose and meaning in God's eyes, even if we don't fathom it (cf. Prov. 16:4; Prov. 16:33; Eph. 1:11). Purpose is a naughty word for the modern man who believes in random chance and even denies there is purpose in life itself. But it behooves us to realize the reasoning behind God's blessings and His providence in our lives--don't shrug off something as getting lucky or fate smiling on you, but give the glory to God who has blessed you and sees and knows all possibilities and can coordinate and orchestrate our lives with utmost care, having written them down before we were born (cf. Psalm 139:16).
Is your security in your portfolio or in Providence? God is in control, for what kind of God wouldn't be: There is not one maverick molecule in the universe! Fate, by the way, is impersonal and even blind, whereas God is personal and involved with care in our lives. There's no such entity as good fortune, but God is good to all and blesses them either directly or by association. Do you ever say to yourself, "Let's not meet by accident [referring to a collision]!" Or even, "Fancy meeting you here!" We make mistakes and have accidents as humans, but God overrules and puts meaning in them--there's even meaning in suffering, which is God's megaphone to speak to us. God's cosmos is not random, but intricately designed and under control. It has been said that the entire universe is like one vast mathematical equation form God's mind.
God even works through diabolical events (cf. Acts 2:23, 4:28) such as the crucifixion to bring about blessings out of curses, and Joseph met his brothers and told them that, though they meant it for evil, God meant it for good! There are no flukes of nature or accidents of history--we must realize God's wisdom in allowing or causing them to happen. Wycliffe said, "All things come to pass of necessity." "The steps of a man are established by the LORD" (cf. Psa. 37:23). God's answer to happenstance is Providence and this is meant to be comforting and assuring that God reigns and rules overall. "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" (Eph. 1:11, NIV).
Nothing happens by chance or coincidence: There is no fortuitous event, but everything under the sun has purpose and meaning in God's eyes, even if we don't fathom it (cf. Prov. 16:4; Prov. 16:33; Eph. 1:11). Purpose is a naughty word for the modern man who believes in random chance and even denies there is purpose in life itself. But it behooves us to realize the reasoning behind God's blessings and His providence in our lives--don't shrug off something as getting lucky or fate smiling on you, but give the glory to God who has blessed you and sees and knows all possibilities and can coordinate and orchestrate our lives with utmost care, having written them down before we were born (cf. Psalm 139:16).
NB: the providence of God. "LORD, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps" (Jer. 10:23, NIV). "A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?" (Prov. 20:24, NIV).
We really shouldn't accommodate the secularists by using these words in our vocabulary, but boldly witness and testify of the providence and blessings of God on our behalf, who watches over us to provide us all our needs. Ben Franklin observed and gave the testimony: "I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more I'm convinced that God governs in the affairs of men."
Note: God is the sole primary cause of the cosmos, who either directs or permits all events: Nothing just happens according to the law of causality (cause and effect); and if God caused it, it must have purpose, because He's a God of purpose and design, known as teleology. We are secondary causes and agents of God being used for His ultimate will.
The conclusion of the matter is this: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD" (Prov. 16:33, NIV). This implies there are meaning and purpose in everything to God (cf. Prov. 16:4), but we are not capable of discerning or deciphering it all the time--just take it by faith that God is with you. Soli Deo Gloria!
We really shouldn't accommodate the secularists by using these words in our vocabulary, but boldly witness and testify of the providence and blessings of God on our behalf, who watches over us to provide us all our needs. Ben Franklin observed and gave the testimony: "I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more I'm convinced that God governs in the affairs of men."
Note: God is the sole primary cause of the cosmos, who either directs or permits all events: Nothing just happens according to the law of causality (cause and effect); and if God caused it, it must have purpose, because He's a God of purpose and design, known as teleology. We are secondary causes and agents of God being used for His ultimate will.
The conclusion of the matter is this: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD" (Prov. 16:33, NIV). This implies there are meaning and purpose in everything to God (cf. Prov. 16:4), but we are not capable of discerning or deciphering it all the time--just take it by faith that God is with you. Soli Deo Gloria!