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Faith Stories

BLESSINGS

      Not too long ago a patient shared with me some concerns about a personal matter. The issues involved a situation between one of her children and the church. She asked me if I would keep her family in “my prayers” during the upcoming weekend, as she would begin to sail through some unsettling waters. Then as my patient was leaving she said, “Wish me luck.” My initial mental response was “how come” which was followed by a weak verbal response of “OK.”

        Afterwards I began to wrestle with the question of why would a practicing Christian request some luck.  After all shouldn’t our faith be enough?  I realized her statement “wish me luck” may have been said due to verbal conditioning. Often those three words are uttered when we enter into a scene of uncertainty. But as believers in Jesus Christ do we need to rely on luck or any other type of superstitious stipulations? Of course not, but this salutation of good will is commonly repeated not only by the laity but some clergy as well.

     Last night I searched for the word luck in my mega-mammoth concordance. Much to my surprise the word luck was nowhere to be found. Next I went to my English dictionary where luck was defined as “the seemingly chance happening of events that affect someone.” Finally I checked in with my trusty thesaurus, which listed similar terms such as; good fortune, prosperity, wealth, success, happiness and blessings. While the first five words had a ring of secularization to them, the last one definitely resounded with a spiritual tone.

    A blessing (as defined by Webster) is an invocation or benediction, a grace said before or after a meal, good wishes or approval, and anything that gives happiness. However a blessing (as defined by my Bible dictionary) is a gift from God or asking Gods favor. Should someone of faith depend on a “chance happening” over a “gift from God” as they approach an anxious situation? I don’t think so. My case is also supported by the following differences between luck and blessings.     

  1. Blessings are for the good, while luck can be for the good or bad.
  2. Blessings rely on God’s grace, while luck relies on people’s decisions.
  3. A blessing is specially appointed, while luck is randomly dispensed. 
  4. Blessings are spiritual, while luck is secular.
  5. Blessings are abundant in the Bible, while luck is abundantly absent.

     We as appointed Christian leaders in our churches and communities should be aware of casual cultural comments. “Wish me luck” is just one example. I know this might sound petty but I do believe pastors and church leaders set a verbal example for the entire church family. Our words and actions are observed and imitated. So when we open our mouth to bestow a positive comment onto a congregate or friend, perhaps the words “be blessed” would better reflect our Christian values instead of “good luck”.

     Oh by the way…God bless you!  

Eric W. Ewert