There's no luck with the Lord our God

I don’t make wishes
          and I don’t believe in luck ...
     but I will say a prayer for you.
                                  The Angel “Monica” in CBS-TV’s Touched by an Angel

Even though it’s been almost a decade and a half since Touched by an Angel left the broadcast airwaves, many of the statements made and episodes aired continue to reverberate with audiences all over the world. Oftentimes these statements were not scripture, but were instead based on scripture. The words touched on Biblical ideas that left viewers wanting more — words that lighted a path to His Word. The words above are an example of such a statement.

There are many Christians — many churches, who continue to think that luck is something associated with the Bible. There are denominations that use charms and talismans and who pray to false idols. Nevertheless, this is not meant to be a condemnation of how churches conduct themselves or an opinion on cults or demon worship (we’ll save that for another day).
However, every Christian should understand and know that luck has nothing to do with God. God does not do luck. He does not afford us luck. Nothing happens on this earth and in this life without the Lord’s desire for it to be so. The word “luck” is never used in the Bible (nor in reputable translations) because luck excludes God from the situation.
If a person is labeled “lucky” then he is branded as one who has not depended on the Lord for the outcome of his situation. When are people said to be lucky? Usually after they win the lottery, score big at gambling or get the biggest haul in the poker game. Sure people may say a cursory prayer to the Lord to help them win such games of chance, but scripture does not back up the likelihood of God’s intervention.
Gambling is man’s way of getting rich quick. There is a willingness to sacrifice the money meant for one’s responsibilities for the chance of increasing their wealth. We are told in Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” While Matthew 6:24 tells us, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Scripture does not tell us that gambling is wrong or to never play the lottery, but it clearly says we cannot depend on God for money per se. We are reminded that God will always provide for our needs. But he will provide based on what He knows we need. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” is what we are promised in Phillipians 4:19. Gambling fulfills a want or desire. God provides our needs for from Psalm 34:10 we know “Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.” Note it says, “good thing.” It does not say our desires.
If we believe that God is in control and that God provides for us, then luck cannot be of the Lord. Luck is chance — it may or may not happen. But God decides how it will happen (and when and where). We know that God is in all things. Ephesians 4:6 tells us “and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.” In Colossians 1:17, “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” And in Romans 11:36 we learn, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
Of course you may be one of those folks who see nothing wrong with playing the lottery or taking a few pulls at the slot machine. If so remember what Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
It’s not whether you win or lose or how you play the game, you see. It’s a decision made by God and God alone.