Sunday 3^rd August 2025

The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33)

Is life a game of dice?

Perhaps you like me have been enjoying the feast of sport served up to us so far this summer. I’ve been enjoying the pinnacle of rugby – the British and Irish Lions tour (every 4 years). There’s a video of Scottish players Sione Tuipulotu and Finn Russell (roommates), speaking about their daily routine, the night before the First Test with Australia:
“Basically what we do before me and Finn go to sleep every night, is we roll these dice and tomorrow if it’s going to be a good day for us, we’ll be over 6. And if It’s  going to be maybe a not so good day for us, which could mean a lot of things, it will be under 6.”

 “This better be a 12” (Russell)

 “It was an 8 so hopefully tomorrow will be a really good day for us.” (Tuipulotu)

 Sports stars can be superstitious –  Tiger Woods would wear a red shirt for the final round of a golf tournament or tennis star Serena Williams would wear the same socks unwashed if she was on a winning streak. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/D3PWnMxTWt1D1Bf6gXNwbC/mysterious-superstitions-in-sport

It’s a trivial example, and it’s hard to know how seriously these two rugby players take it, but it perhaps underlines some of the world’s way of thinking that we can slip into as Christians. We can cry out to ‘the universe’ and hope that it responds in the way that we want – we hear lots these days of ‘manifesting’ (in which you envision—and ideally bring about—a desired outcome.)

As Christians however, we believe in a God who wisely and carefully orders our lives, however hard it may be to see in the moment. As Proverbs 16 shows us, there are no events so small, over which God’s rule doesn’t ultimately extend. We know that God loves us (1 John 4:9-10), that He is working out everything according to the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11) and that this is ultimately for our good (Romans 8:28) and His glory (Romans 11:36).

 Tim Keller in his book on Proverbs puts it this way – please pray it with me:

“Lord, you are completely just and fair and, despite appearances due to our extremely limited vantage point, you have never wronged anyone. Give me the deep contentment and peace that can only come from knowing your designs for me are flawless, though I cannot possibly fathom them. Amen.”

With love in Christ,

Ben Wells (Associate Minister)