Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Luck or hard work? Think twice before you answer

OpinionJohn Chandler  |  August 15, 2017

“Luck” is a concept laden with philosophical freight. Things that happen to us through circumstances not of our making might be attributed to supernatural forces (i.e. “fortune,” from the Roman goddess Fortuna) or through mere randomness (which also implies a world view, i.e. a closed universe). Many ancient religions connected luck to ritual in attempts to control the uncontrollable. Carl Jung thought of it as synchronicity, the meaningful coincidences not of our own agency.

Historically, Christian teaching is that belief in luck is irreconcilable with a sound view of the God of the Bible. Isaiah 65:11 thunders woe to “you who forsake the Lord, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny.” However, luck has enjoyed (and still enjoys) wide popularity in our culture. Admittedly, Mary and I were careful to wear our lucky clothes in order to secure the UNC men’s basketball team’s sixth national championship. Our legendary announcer, Woody Durham, always implored UNC fans to “go where you go and do what you do” when the Tar Heels most need help. We were only too happy to help.

Generally, U.S. culture remains wildly superstitious, with all sorts of lucky talismans and rituals enfolded into our way of thinking and living. However, the future of luck does not look so good in our country. The reason? North Americans are increasingly likely to attribute success not to luck, but to talent and hard work. Increasingly, we believe that we “make our own luck.”

This, according to Cornell professor Robert Frank, is a real social problem. In his book, Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy, Frank argues that the personal narratives of successful people tend to attribute their success to their own hard work rather than “factors like luck or being at the right place in the right time.” And this, he says, is a problem in that “seeing ourselves as self-made leads us to be less generous and public-spirited.”

Hindsight leads those who are rich to remember their personal sacrifices, but not to reflect on what it means that they were born in the United States (as opposed to, say, Syria). And when we see our success as the product only of our striving, we tend to become more possessive of what we (alone!) have earned. It is difficult for those of us who are wealthy not to look down our noses at the wretched masses who obviously haven’t worked as hard as we did.

The root of all deadly sin is pride, and in the face of every temptation to attribute my incredible life to all that I have done to earn it, I try to remember the words of Psalm 100: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” And you don’t have to resort to superstitious belief in luck to capture the sentiment. In countless African-American churches today, when you ask folk how they are doing, their answer is, “Blessed.”

I’d say that has it just about right.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors.
More by
John Chandler
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • How to connect the dots while watching Shiny Happy People

      Analysis

    • A friendly conversation on being ‘woke’

      Opinion

    • On migrant crisis, the U.S. and UK governments share a controversial tactic in common

      News

    • The whole gospel of God for a church and nation in crisis

      Opinion


    Curated

    • Polish city throws children’s bubble party on top of Jewish graves

      Polish city throws children’s bubble party on top of Jewish graves

    • Seattle’s Quest Church leaves ECC as church affirms LGBTQ Christians

      Seattle’s Quest Church leaves ECC as church affirms LGBTQ Christians

    • Vatican bank reports significant profit adopting Catholic ethics

      Vatican bank reports significant profit adopting Catholic ethics

    • Thousands Gather Outside Colorado Capitol Calling On Governor To Ban All Guns

      Thousands Gather Outside Colorado Capitol Calling On Governor To Ban All Guns

    Read Next:

    When a Baptist Press story tells you only part of the story

    AnalysisMark Wingfield

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • New assistance programs cause poverty rate among immigrants to fall in U.S.

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Finding hope in in the church despite these two documentaries

      OpinionErin Albin Hill

    • Mike Stone has an unlikely nominator for his SBC presidential run

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Southwestern trustees release 20 years of financials that show devastating decline began under Patterson

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • How to connect the dots while watching Shiny Happy People

      AnalysisRick Pidcock

    • How the new documentary series Shiny Happy People intersects with mainstream Christianity

      AnalysisMallory Challis

    • What I learned when I invited a friend to church who processes the world differently than me

      OpinionDebby Haralson

    • On migrant crisis, the U.S. and UK governments share a controversial tactic in common

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • A friendly conversation on being ‘woke’

      OpinionRuss Dean

    • When a Baptist Press story tells you only part of the story

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • 27% of Americans are still watching religious services online

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Resolving to ‘respect the diversity’ of the global Baptist family

      AnalysisSteven R. Harmon

    • ‘Leaders are formed in the leading,’ Bolsinger advises pastors

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The right’s zero-tolerance policy on Pride

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • The whole gospel of God for a church and nation in crisis

      OpinionH. Stephen Shoemaker

    • One year after Roe was overturned, states have a ‘hodgepodge of laws’

      NewsSteve Rabey

    • The rhetorical genuis of Rick Warren

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Remembering the Tulsa race massacre of 1921

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • The Respect for Marriage Act helped de-escalate the culture wars

      OpinionTanner Bean

    • Stone of Destiny: Rising secularism and its influence on Scottish independence

      AnalysisKristen Thomason

    • Here’s a guide to understanding the latest report from Southwestern’s trustees

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • Is Rick Warren reviving the fight against the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC?

      OpinionMeredith Stone

    • An open letter to all Southern Baptists

      OpinionRick Warren

    • Shurden Lecture takes on the ‘myth of American chosenness’

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • New assistance programs cause poverty rate among immigrants to fall in U.S.

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Mike Stone has an unlikely nominator for his SBC presidential run

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Southwestern trustees release 20 years of financials that show devastating decline began under Patterson

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • On migrant crisis, the U.S. and UK governments share a controversial tactic in common

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • 27% of Americans are still watching religious services online

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • ‘Leaders are formed in the leading,’ Bolsinger advises pastors

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • One year after Roe was overturned, states have a ‘hodgepodge of laws’

      NewsSteve Rabey

    • Shurden Lecture takes on the ‘myth of American chosenness’

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • What happens when Tom Ascol finds Ted Cruz to be too liberal and quotes Leviticus 20:13?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Three billboards outside Nashville, Tennessee

      NewsRick Pidcock

    • Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina loses president and board chair in same week

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Faith-based immigration advocates hopeful about new bill in Congress

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Coalition urges White House not to overlook Black immigrants

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Gay Christian man says he was kicked off BWA commissions

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Southwestern trustees affirm their leadership and repudiate two trustees who raised alarms

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • How to fix anemic U.S. rural health care? Learn from Africa and look to the churches, Birx says

      NewsElizabeth Souder

    • Medical professionals address myths and misconceptions about transgender kids

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Opal Lee may be the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ but she’s not done working for justice yet

      NewsMallory Challis

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • U.S. Department of Education issues guidance on religious expression in schools

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ten Commandments bill dies in Texas Legislature

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Leader of Assemblies of God student group at Baylor arrested on child sexual abuse charges

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • BJC and Interfaith Alliance applaud first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New documentary series shows how churches that close can keep ministry open

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Finding hope in in the church despite these two documentaries

      OpinionErin Albin Hill

    • What I learned when I invited a friend to church who processes the world differently than me

      OpinionDebby Haralson

    • A friendly conversation on being ‘woke’

      OpinionRuss Dean

    • The right’s zero-tolerance policy on Pride

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • The whole gospel of God for a church and nation in crisis

      OpinionH. Stephen Shoemaker

    • The rhetorical genuis of Rick Warren

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Remembering the Tulsa race massacre of 1921

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • The Respect for Marriage Act helped de-escalate the culture wars

      OpinionTanner Bean

    • Is Rick Warren reviving the fight against the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC?

      OpinionMeredith Stone

    • An open letter to all Southern Baptists

      OpinionRick Warren

    • An open letter to Elijah Brown, Baptist World Alliance CEO

      OpinionRichard Wilson

    • Why this seminary professor’s view of MrBeast and his friend is deadly and dangerous

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • What I learned from Taylor Swift

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • Remembering Pulse nighclub and the power of affirmation

      OpinionMaina Mwaura

    • Working and waiting with people and plants

      OpinionBob Newell

    • Let’s reclaim the real Baptist identity

      OpinionJustin L. Addington

    • To the mother who complained about Amanda Gorman’s poem

      OpinionRobert P. Sellers

    • Rising from the ashes: God’s empowering message for displaced women

      OpinionRosaly Guzman

    • How the Progressive National Baptist Convention plans to put faith into action

      OpinionDarryl Gray

    • Believe me: The struggle of Black pain

      OpinionZachary Barber

    • They’ll know we are Christians by our what?

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • How to celebrate Pentecost without balloons, plastic doves or salsa

      OpinionJack Levison

    • The generational pain and hope of the Southern Baptist witch trials

      OpinionWill Raybon

    • Why demographic shifts haven’t yet swamped the Republican Party

      OpinionRobert P. Jones

    • Tina Turner kept the divine flame burning

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Polish city throws children’s bubble party on top of Jewish graves

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Seattle’s Quest Church leaves ECC as church affirms LGBTQ Christians

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Vatican bank reports significant profit adopting Catholic ethics

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Thousands Gather Outside Colorado Capitol Calling On Governor To Ban All Guns

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Fighting For Peace: Russians Use Faith To Protest Invasion Of Ukraine Despite Risks

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Anti-hate mural showcasing Jewish diversity goes up in LA neighborhood where antisemitic shootings took place

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • What Happens When Christians and Muslims Translate Scripture Side by Side

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How Biden has navigated LGBTQ issues as a Catholic president

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • New Capital Jewish Museum ‘connects the past to the present’ in downtown DC

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Arson investigation underway after fire burns Los Angeles church for second time in 2 years

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Lionized for his Jan. 6 antics, Jake Angeli finds his spiritual beliefs a harder sell

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools ‘due to vulgarity or violence’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, Jewish rituals feature as prominently as the carnage of the day

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Manipur Christians: ‘The Violence Has Shattered Us’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pride flag glimpsed on ‘The Chosen’ set prompts call for boycott

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Why Chick-fil-A Is Drawing Fire Over a ‘Culture of Belonging’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Survey: Drop in Eastern European antisemitism may be due to Zelenskyy effect

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Street scrolls: The beats, rhymes and spirituality of Latin hip-hop

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • ‘Felt like a year’: Worshipper describes fear during gunman’s deadly attack on Pittsburgh synagogue

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Near the Western Wall, Jewish radicals shout at Christian Evangelicals to ‘go home’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Playing a religious character without making faith the punchline

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Jewish settlers erect religious school in evacuated West Bank outpost after Israel repeals ban

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How the practice of Nichiren Buddhism sustained Tina Turner for 50 years

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Connecticut lawmakers absolve accused colonial-era witches, apologize for “miscarriage of justice”

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • ‘Avatar’ Franchise Expands Ideas About Spirituality Beyond A Western, Christian Lens

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2023 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS