Do you “knock on wood” to avoid bad luck? You are digging a hole for yourself.
Beware if you ever “knock on wood” to prevent bad luck, You are digging a hole for yourself!!!
Most folks have a “knock on wood” story; They were very excited while striving for something and almost immediately after declaring progress out loud, some unfortunate thing hits them seemingly out of nowhere. This phenomenon is so common that many will purposefully refrain from acknowledging progress towards a milestone out loud until the milestone is complete, or if they do choose to say something out loud while it is still in progress, they will find a piece of wood and knock on it to avoid this inevitable bad thing. Some attribute this coincidence of events to luck or karma or something mysterious. Once you understand what is actually going on, you will find the process is much more systematic and predictable; you will find that all progress should be celebrated and the corresponding undesired events are avoidable, but not by knocking on wood. You will discover that choosing to “knock on wood” actually increases the likelihood you will suffer the unfortunate thing you were trying ot avoid. Read on to learn more.
This whole process is part of God’s grand design; It is part of the “Truth or Consequences” structure He set up for this world. The entire process is intended to help each of us get aligned with Him so we can fulfill our purpose here and be ready for eternity with Him in heaven.
The structure is rather straight forward once you boil it down:
- HE provides two overarching rules: Love God with ALL your heart, and Love your neighbors AS yourself (Matthew 22:37-40)
- He promises blessings if you Love Him and follow His rules.
- He promises consequences if you do not. You have free will to choose. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)
So how does this play out when you are knocking on wood?
Truths:
- God created this place and put you here.
- He provided you with all your talents to do things and He presented all the opportunities for you to use them.
- He provides the roof over your head, the food on your table, and the clothes on your back.
- He provides all the resources you are using to accomplish whatever you are doing.
- He supplies every single breath you take; You can do absolutely nothing without him.
We are held accountable for our thoughts, words, and actions.
- If you are thinking that you have achieved something significant based on your own effort, you are not loving God with all your heart. You are loving only yourself and your contribution. If we are doing this, we are significantly overstating your contribution, the truth is you can do absolutely nothing on your own, you can’t even breath on your own.
- If you say I have accomplished something, or say something is going well, and are not giving God any credit for His contribution, you are not loving God with all your heart, you are actually stealing credit from Him. A simple “Thank god” , or “God is good”, or “I am so blessed” is all it takes to share credit.
- So what does knocking on wood do? It is just another step in the downhill chain… an action. So at this point our thinking is off…we think we are responsible for what is happening not God, Our words are off, we are telling others that we have accomplished this thing and are stealing credit from God, and now we are taking action based on this flawed thinking and knocking on a piece of wood to prevent an adverse consequence. Others will hear those words and see that action and possibly think that is how you are being successful and never know that God is making it all happen for you.
These thoughts, words, and acitons are indictions that we do not love God with all our heart. When we chose NOT to Love Him with all our heart, we open ourselves to consequences, and bam… they happen. Not every time, but often enough that folks have started knocking on wood to avoid them. This is described in Proverbs 16:18 as “Pride before destruction, a Haughty spirit before a fall”. When you have inflated your ego and are taking all the credit for something God played a big part in, don’t’ be surprised when something bad happens.
So what should I do rather than knock on wood?
So when you feel the urge to knock on wood, don’t! Thank God instead. When you notice some significant thing happening in your life, pause for a second and reflect on how this came about and how God’s hand has set it all up. Thank God continuously for all He has done and continues to do for you.
Hope this helps
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Supporting scriptures:
Two basic game rules:
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
You have free will, but your choices have consequences:
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Your mental perspective has consequences:
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
Give thanks always:
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:20
“I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 86:12
“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Jay says:
Interesting topic! I never thought about ‘knocking on wood’ that way. I typically would think, “So far, so good…and with luck things will continue to go well.” Maybe you’re right that I should change my thinking to give thanks to God for what he’s accomplished through me/us ‘so far’, and ask for His continued help?