March 4 – Who Controls the Lottery

        Proverbs 16:33 – "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh."

        This verse speaks of games of chance – gambling, to some extent, whether large or small, insignificant or otherwise. I suppose that we all gamble to some extent. For example, when one eats at a new restaurant, the quality of everything on the menu is unknown. We may have heard of the goodness thereof, but until we experience it, we take a not-so-risky gamble by paying for quality that might not materialize. So what if we lose $12 worth of quality taste? At least, we have had a

sustainable meal. Which means, we have gambled quite insignificantly.

        How about I spend money on something, the odds of which, are stacked against me? Like a national lottery? With millions of dollars at stake? This kind of gambling needs to be scrutinized by our hearts. The verse above states that God is in control of who wins the lottery. Let's not argue the fact that some lotteries actually provide money for charitable organizations. If God has given me resources by which to live, pay my bills, and give back to his kingdom, why would I just throw those resources to the wind? Perhaps, it is because I want "more", which means that I am not content with what I already have. The apostle Paul stated that he had learned to be in content in lack and in abundance (Philippians 4:12-13). Perhaps it is because I do not trust that God will provide for my needs. Jesus tells us just the opposite in Matthew 6:25-34. Perhaps my mind is okay with supporting a charitable lottery, while just playing the game. Whatever the reason, we should check our motives and strive to please God with how we spend our money.

       My motto is thus: "You gotta play to lose." If I never play, I never lose. I And that makes great sense to me. I have never lost at the lottery, because I have never played. Consider the wisdom of steady investment over time, versus a lottery ticket purchase. Proverbs 21:15 advises, "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

December 1 – Room For God

        Psalm 10:4 – "In his pride, the wicked one does not seek God; in all his thoughts, there is no room for God." (NIV, 1973)

        This verse particularly stuck out at me as I was reading Psalm 10, which, by the way, is actually a continuation of Psalm 9, the combination thereof being a complete acrostic poem. The stanzas, of which, begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The particular phrase that caught my attention is "no room for God". It immediately reminded me of the Christmas story, in which we are told that there was "no room in the inn" for a pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph.

        What a sad commentary! To have no space in my head, in my mind, in my thoughts – all day – for the God who shows his kindness to me every day and fills my heart with joy (Acts 14:17). Of course, to those who do not believe in God, that way of living is an easy thing. If there is no God, why should I think of him?

      The phrase "no room for God" also made me wonder if the "original" Hebrew conveyed a slightly different meaning. The wording basically states that the wicked do not "seek" or look for God, because to them, he does not exist. Many of the English translations convey this thought of seeking God. Knowing that the NIV is a conceptual translation, it is not surprising that the translators used the phrase "no room for God in his thoughts". I find that phrase much more colorful and poignant, in contrast to the word seek, which is seldom used in common English speech. "Seek" is usually only used casually when we refer to "hide-and-seek". To state that I have no room, or space, or even time, for something conveys the thought that I have filled my mind or my life with other things, things of less importance, or things of no importance, or things for my own pleasure.

        God does want us to be filled with pleasure and joy in our activities, as referenced in the aforementioned verse from Acts 14. However, it is only by following his ways, being led by his Spirit, pursuing his pleasure, that our greatest joy can be found. Psalm 37:4 states, "Delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart." That idea does not mean having a passing thought of God throughout your day. It means having much room in your mind, in your life, in your busy schedule, to learn of God's truth, ways, desires for us, and then to find great delight in walking in them.

        Like the old '50s TV show title, let's make room for Daddy in our lives.