March 12 – My Times (Part 1)

        Psalm 31:14-15 – "But I trust in you, O Yahweh; I say 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands...."

  

       My times are in your hands, David writes. That is an intriguing phrase, and not one that we use in everyday communication. "My times" refers to our length of years within the bigger picture of history, specifically how are lives are sculpted by, and attempting to sculpt, our culture. It really is a "big picture" concept within the definition of the word "time". Time is this continuum that we cannot stop, without leaving its confines altogether (read: dying).

        I had to research briefly the word "time" in Hebrew, just to make sure that I was not tricking myself into making a modern translation more than it really is. I thought for sure that there would be some different Hebrew meaning behind this odd English phrase. I was pleasantly disappointed. The Hebrew meaning is quite generic, and simply means "time, hours, or times", in a variety of normal general contexts, which we use today when talking normally about events happening at a certain time.

        Let's go back to the longer phrase. My times are in God's hands. Not everyone can say this truthfully, and succinctly, unless God is his Father. This is not just a passive saying, in which we throw up our hands and concede that fate is controlling our destiny. That kind of thinking is for those ignorant of the word of God. David's complete trust/submission to God throughout his life is indicative of his lifestyle. He was a man after God's heart. He was a true believer – a follower of the living God. He was not a person glibly moving through life, fatefully stating that everything happens for a reason, all the while not having a clue what those reasons are. No, he knew that his life was really being cared for, by the God who loved him – the God who is interested in us all – and by the God who is accessible and not far off.

        "My times" also consists of the desire to live a long, full life. Because of the fall of man, physical death for every person is unavoidable. But we were really meant to live for ever. Even though that is not physically possible, our natures desire to not die. For Christians, however, physical death is entrance to heaven, to bliss, and to rest with our heavenly Father. We have faith that our future will be so much better than our present could ever be. Yet, we live mostly in attempts to preserve this physical life as long as possible (partly because of our ties with family and spouse). In many psalms, including Psalm 31 above, the writer cries out to not be killed "prematurely". Verse 13 states, "they conspire against me and plot to take my life". In the previous psalm, David writes, "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you?" These are questions we may ask when premature death stares us in the face. Even the Apostle Paul despaired of life. See 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. Yet, in verse 10, he states that his grim circumstances were there to produce more trust in God, who delivered him at that time from death. In Philippians chapter one, Paul takes this big picture concept to another level in our understanding. In verse 21, he writes from prison, "....[I] will have sufficient courage so that....Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in this body, it will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far." (Paul was obviously not "choosing" suicide just to be with Christ. That was a figure of speech.) In some way, he was echoing the sentiment of David in Psalm 31, that Paul's times were in God's hands. Like David, Paul was a true believer, and the best example we have of a devoted Christian.

        So, while we are trusting God that our times are in his hands, let us not worry or be anxious. Jesus stated, "...who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life"? James adds, "You don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do, and doesn't do it, sins."

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."